He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313.
Once Alfonso was declared adult in 1325, he began a reign that would serve to strengthen royal power. His achievements include solving the problems of the Gibraltar Strait and the conquest of Algeciras.
As soon as he occupied the throne, he began working hard to strengthen royal power by dividing his enemies. His early displayal of rulership skills included the unhesitant execution of possible opposers (Don Juan el Tuerto in 1326, among others).
He is variously known among Castilian kings as the Avenger or the Implacable, and as "He of Salado River." The first two names he earned by the ferocity with which he repressed the disorder of the nobles after a long minority; the third by his victory in the Battle of Rio Salado over the last formidable Marinid invasion of Iberian Peninsula in 1340.
Alfonso XI never went to the insane lengths of his son Peter of Castile, but he could be bloody in his methods. He killed for reasons of state without form of trial. He openly neglected his wife, Maria of Portugal, and had an ostentatious passion for Eleanor of Guzman, who bore him ten children.
Alfonso XI first married Costanza Manuel of Castile on 1325, but divorced her two years later.
His second marriage, on 1328, was to Maria of Portugal, daughter of Alfonso IV of Portugal. They had:
Ferdinand (Valladolid, 1332–1333)
Peter of Castile.
By his mistress, Eleanor of Guzman, he had ten children:
Pedro Alfonso, 1st Lord of Aguilar de Campoo (1330–1338)
Juana Alfonso, 1st Lady of Trastámara (born 1330)
Sancho Alfonso, 1st Lord of Ledesma (1331–1343)
Henry Alfonso of Trastámara (1334–1379)
Fadrique Alfonso, Master of the Order of Santiago and 1st Lord of Haro; (born 1335)
Fernando Alfonso, 2nd Lord of Ledesma
Tello Alfonso, 1st Lord of Aguilar de Campoo (1337–1370)
Juan Alfonso, 1st Lord of Badajoz and Jerez de la Frontera (1341–1359)
Sancho Alfonso, 1st Count of Alburquerque (1342–1375)
Pedro Alfonso (1345–1359)
After Alfonso's death, his widow Maria had Eleanor arrested and later killed
He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313.
Once Alfonso was declared adult in 1325, he began a reign that would serve to strengthen royal power. His achievements include solving the problems of the Gibraltar Strait and the conquest of Algeciras.
As soon as he occupied the throne, he began working hard to strengthen royal power by dividing his enemies. His early displayal of rulership skills included the unhesitant execution of possible opposers (Don Juan el Tuerto in 1326, among others).
He is variously known among Castilian kings as the Avenger or the Implacable, and as "He of Salado River." The first two names he earned by the ferocity with which he repressed the disorder of the nobles after a long minority; the third by his victory in the Battle of Rio Salado over the last formidable Marinid invasion of Iberian Peninsula in 1340.
Alfonso XI never went to the insane lengths of his son Peter of Castile, but he could be bloody in his methods. He killed for reasons of state without form of trial. He openly neglected his wife, Maria of Portugal, and had an ostentatious passion for Eleanor of Guzman, who bore him ten children.
Alfonso XI first married Costanza Manuel of Castile on 1325, but divorced her two years later.
His second marriage, on 1328, was to Maria of Portugal, daughter of Alfonso IV of Portugal. They had:
Ferdinand (Valladolid, 1332–1333)
Peter of Castile.
By his mistress, Eleanor of Guzman, he had ten children:
Pedro Alfonso, 1st Lord of Aguilar de Campoo (1330–1338)
Juana Alfonso, 1st Lady of Trastámara (born 1330)
Sancho Alfonso, 1st Lord of Ledesma (1331–1343)
Henry Alfonso of Trastámara (1334–1379)
Fadrique Alfonso, Master of the Order of Santiago and 1st Lord of Haro; (born 1335)
Fernando Alfonso, 2nd Lord of Ledesma
Tello Alfonso, 1st Lord of Aguilar de Campoo (1337–1370)
Juan Alfonso, 1st Lord of Badajoz and Jerez de la Frontera (1341–1359)
Sancho Alfonso, 1st Count of Alburquerque (1342–1375)
Pedro Alfonso (1345–1359)
After Alfonso's death, his widow Maria had Eleanor arrested and later killed
Family Members
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Pedro de Aguilar
1330–1338
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Sancho Alfonso de Castilla
1331–1343
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Fernando de Castilla
1332–1333
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Fadrique Alfonso de Castilla
1334–1358
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Pedro I De Castilla
1334–1369
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Enrique II of Castile
1334–1379
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Tello Alfonso de Castilla
1337–1370
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Juana Alfonso de Castilla
1338–1376
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Sancho Alfonso de Castilla
1342–1374
