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BIRTH: 1202 in Burgos, Burgos, Spain DEATH: 1244 in Huelgas, Burgos, Spain BURIAL: Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, Burgos, Spain FATHER: Alfonso VIII ap SANCHO King of Castile - Birth: 11 Nov 1155 in Soria, Castile, Spain MOTHER: Eleanor verch King HENRY II - Birth: 13 Oct 1162 in Domfront, Orne, Basse-Normandy, France MARRIAGE: 1221 - James I KING of ARAGON in Agreda, Soria Provence, Castile and León, Spain CHILDREN: 1. Alfonso of ARAGON - b. abt. 1229 in Aragon, Spain Eleanor of Castile was a daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Leonora of England. She was queen consort of Aragon by her marriage to James I of Aragon. Her mother, Leonora was a daughter of Henry II of England and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II was a greater grandson of William the Conquerer. Her father was son of Sancho III of Castile and Blanca Garcés of Navarre, Blanca was a daughter of García Ramírez of Navarre. Eleanor's sister, Berengaria became Queen of Castile since their brother, Henry III of Castile died with no issue and because Berengaria was the eldest of the daughters. Another sister, Blanche became Queen of France by her marriage to Louis VIII of France. Eleanor 'Lenora' was her mother's namesake, inherited her mother's political influence. Eleanor married James I in 1221 at Agreda, Soria Provence, Castile and León, Spain. She was nineteen and he was fourteen. They married for political reasons and not for love. The next six years of James' reign were full of rebellions on the part of the nobles. By the Peace of Alcalá of 31 March 1227, the nobles and the king came to terms.
Alfonso & Eleanor had one son: Alfonso & Eleanor's marriage was annulled in 1230 at which time their son Alfonso was declared legitimate. However, his half siblings by James' second wife Violant of Hungary inherited James' kingdom when he died. Alfonso married a second and third time and had at least 12 more children. Eleanor became a nun after her marriage was annuled. She and her elder sister Berenaria of Castile went to the Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas. Berengaria of Castile had retired from ruling Castile and Leon. Both sisters died there, Eleanor died in 1244 and Berengaria died two years later in 1246. They are both buried in the Abbey.
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SOURCES: Burials at the Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, Burgos Aragonese queen consorts Women of medieval Spain 13th-century Spanish people House of Burgundy-Spain
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