Infanta Leonor of Castile
Abbess of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas
Royal House of Ivrea
Royal House of Plantagenet
Daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Princess Eleanor of England. Paternal granddaughter of King Sancho III of Castile and Blanca Ramírez of Navarre. Maternal granddaughter of King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.
Leonor married King Jaime I of Aragon in 1221, at the age of nineteen. Her groom was then fourteen years of age.
The marriage produced one son, Alfonso of Aragon (1229-1260), who was declared legitimate when their union was annulled in 1230. The Kingdom of Aragon was left to his half-siblings by his father's second marriage, however, and he did not succeed to the throne.
After the annulment of her marriage, Leonor returned to Castile and became a nun. She was later the Abbess of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, the abbey and monastery founded by her mother, where she died in 1244.
A 20th century examination of her tomb found her mummified remains in good condition, and revealed her burial garments were made of brocade. She was 1'60 meters tall, and her hands were crossed upon her chest. The limestone sarcophagus has protected her remains for centuries.
Infanta Leonor of Castile
Abbess of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas
Royal House of Ivrea
Royal House of Plantagenet
Daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Princess Eleanor of England. Paternal granddaughter of King Sancho III of Castile and Blanca Ramírez of Navarre. Maternal granddaughter of King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine.
Leonor married King Jaime I of Aragon in 1221, at the age of nineteen. Her groom was then fourteen years of age.
The marriage produced one son, Alfonso of Aragon (1229-1260), who was declared legitimate when their union was annulled in 1230. The Kingdom of Aragon was left to his half-siblings by his father's second marriage, however, and he did not succeed to the throne.
After the annulment of her marriage, Leonor returned to Castile and became a nun. She was later the Abbess of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, the abbey and monastery founded by her mother, where she died in 1244.
A 20th century examination of her tomb found her mummified remains in good condition, and revealed her burial garments were made of brocade. She was 1'60 meters tall, and her hands were crossed upon her chest. The limestone sarcophagus has protected her remains for centuries.
Family Members
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Berenguela de Castilla y de León Plantagenet
1180–1246
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Sancho de Castilla y Plantagenet
1181–1181
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Sancha de Castilla y Plantagenet
1182–1184
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Urraca Castile
1187–1220
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Blanche de Castille
1188–1252
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Fernando de Castilla y Plantagenet
1189–1211
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Mafalda de Castilla y Plantagenet
1191–1211
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Enrique I de Castilla y Plantagenet
1204–1217
See more de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet memorials in:
- Monasterio de Santa María la Real de las Huelgas de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
- Burgos de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
- Provincia de Burgos de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
- Castilla y León de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
- Spain de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
- Find a Grave de Aragona or de Castilla y Plantagenet
