Surname List
Name Index
Email Us
Ferdinand III was responsible for almost completing the reconquest of Spain, having reclaimed vast amounts of territory from the Moors. He captured Cordoba in 1236, occupied Murcia in 1243, took Jaen in 1246, captured Seville in 1248, and reduced the Kingdom of Granada to a vassal state. He reestablished Catholic worship everywhere and built churches and founded monasteries. He converted the great mosques of Cordoba and Seville into cathedrals, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and founded the University of Salamanca. The Catholic Encyclopedia has this to say about Ferdinand III and his conduct during the military campaigns: "He watched over the conduct of his soldiers, confiding more in their virtue than in their valor, fasted strictly himself, wore a rough hairshirt, and often spent his nights in prayer, especially before battles. Amid the tumult of the camp he lived like a religious in the cloister. The glory of the Church and the happiness of his people were the two guiding motives of his life".
After his reign, all that remained for the complete reconquest of Spain was the defeat of Granada. He was planning an expedition to Morocco when he died in 1252 and was buried in the cathedral at Seville, clothed as he had requested in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. Many miracles took place at his tomb and his body reportedly remains incorrupt. He was canonized in 1671; his feast day is May 30. Ferdinand III was succeeded as King by his son, Alfonso X. Parents: Alfonso IX (KING OF LEON) and Berenguela of Castile.
Spouse: Beatrice (Elizabeth) VON HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia. St. Ferdinand III (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Beatrice (Elizabeth) VON HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia were married on November 30, 1219. Children were: Alfonso X (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON).
Ferdinand IV (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) was born on December 6, 1285. He died on December 7, 1312. Ferdinand IV became King in 1295 at the age of 10; his mother served as regent during his minority. He led an unsuccessful campaign to capture Algeciras from the Moors but was successful in conquering Gibraltar in 1309, with the help of Aragon. He died at the age of 27 and was succeeded by his son Alfonso XI. Parents: Sancho IV (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Maria de MOLINA.
Spouse: Constanza of Portugal. Ferdinand IV (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Constanza of Portugal were married in 1302. Children were: Leonor of Castile, Constanza of Castile, Alfonso XI.
Fernando. Parents: Ferdinand and Blanche of France.
Children were: Blanca.
Fernando Alfonso (sn de Ledesma) was born in 1336. Parents: Alfonso XI and Leonora de Guzman.
Fernando of Castile was born in 1332. Parents: Alfonso XI and Maria of Portugal.
Frederick I (Barbarossa) (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) was born in 1122. He died on June 10, 1190. He drowned in the River Calycandus, Cilicia. Also known as Frederick Barbarossa, he was a Duke of Swabia and King of Germany prior to becoming Holy Roman Emperor. Parents: Frederick II HOHENSTAUFEN and Judith of Bavaria.
Spouse: Adelheid von VOHBURG. Frederick I (Barbarossa) (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and Adelheid von VOHBURG were married in 1147. They were divorced in 1153.
Spouse: Beatrix of Burgundy. Frederick I (Barbarossa) (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and Beatrix of Burgundy were married on June 10, 1156. Children were: Henry VI HOHENSTAUFENS of Sicily (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR), Philip HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR).
Gerberga.
Spouse: Adalbert of Italy (KING OF ITALY). Adalbert of Italy (KING OF ITALY) and Gerberga were married. Children were: Othon-Guillaume de Macon.
Gerberga. Parents: Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and St. Matilda of Ringelheim.
Geva.
Spouse: Wittekind (Widukind) of the Saxons (KING OF THE SAXONS). Wittekind (Widukind) of the Saxons (KING OF THE SAXONS) and Geva were married. Children were: Wigebart of Saxony (Duke of Saxony).
Gisela of Friaul.
Spouse: Adalbert of Ivrea (Count & Margrave of Ivrea). Adalbert of Ivrea (Count & Margrave of Ivrea) and Gisela of Friaul were married.
Gorka.
Spouse: Ziemonislaw of Poland (Duke of Poland). Ziemonislaw of Poland (Duke of Poland) and Gorka were married. Children were: Mieczislaw (Burislaf) I of Poland (Duke of Poland).
Guifre (Wilfred) the Hairy (Count of Barcelona) died in 897. He was killed while fighting the Moors. Parents: Sunifred I of Urgell (Count of Barcelona) and _____ (mother of Guifre the Hairy).
Spouse: _____ (mother of Sunyer of Barcelona). Children were: Sunyer of Barcelona.
Hatheburg.
Spouse: Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR). Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and Hatheburg were married in 906. Hatheburg was a young widow when she married Henry I the Fowler; their marriage was subsequently declared invalid.
Hedwig. Parents: Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and St. Matilda of Ringelheim.
Hedwige. One source (Stammtafeln) believes she was the daughter of Henry, Margrave of Mark (died 886) and not Arnulf. Parents: Arnulf of Carinthia (KING OF GERMANY) and Oda of Bavaria.
Spouse: Otto of Saxony (Duke of Saxony). Otto of Saxony (Duke of Saxony) and Hedwige were married about 869. Children were: Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR).
Heilwig was born about 931. She died on November 12.
Spouse: Hermann of Palatine. Hermann of Palatine and Heilwig were married. Children were: Ezzo of Palatine (Count Palatine).
Henry (Duke of Bavaria). Parents: Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and St. Matilda of Ringelheim.
Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) was born about 876. He died on June 2, 936. Parents: Otto of Saxony (Duke of Saxony) and Hedwige.
Spouse: Hatheburg. Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and Hatheburg were married in 906. Hatheburg was a young widow when she married Henry I the Fowler; their marriage was subsequently declared invalid.
Spouse: St. Matilda of Ringelheim. Henry I the Fowler (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and St. Matilda of Ringelheim were married in 909. Children were: Henry (Duke of Bavaria), Otto I the Great, King of Germany (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR), St. Bruno (Archbishop of Cologne), Gerberga, Hedwig.
Henry II of Castile (KING OF CASTILE) was born about 1333. He died on May 30, 1379. Also known as Enrique (or Henry) of Trastamara, he was the illegitimate son of King Alfonso XI, who was succeeded after he died in 1350 by his legitimate son, Peter the Cruel. Henry II took part in several revolts against his half-brother, but they were all unsuccessful. Henry II sought help from Du Guesclin and Peter IV of Aragon and finally succeeded in removing Peter the Cruel from the throne in 1366. Peter the Cruel responded by forming an alliance with England and, with the aid of Edward the Black Prince, defeated Henry II in battle at Najera in 1367. However, Edward the Black Prince had to depart to participate in the French campaign and, after he departed, Henry II attacked and killed Peter the Cruel in battle at Montiel in 1369. Henry II was able to retain the throne despite opposition from King Ferdinand I of Portugal and John of Gaunt. John of Gaunt was the brother of Edward the Black Prince and, in 1371, married Constance of Castile, the daughter of Peter the Cruel (perhaps marriage was the price Constance paid for the help of John of Gaunt, who undoubtedly used it make his own claim to Castile). Henry II successfuly resisted all opposition and remained King until his death in 1379; he was succeeded by his son, John I of Castile. Parents: Alfonso XI and Leonora de Guzman.
Spouse: Juana Manuel de Castilla (sna de Villena). Henry II of Castile (KING OF CASTILE) and Juana Manuel de Castilla (sna de Villena) were married on July 27, 1350. Children were: John I of Castile, Leonor of Castile (Infanta of Castile), Juana of Castile (Infanta of Castile).
Spouse: Elvira Iniquez DE LA VEGA. Children were: Alfonso ENRIQUEZ.
Henry III (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) was born in 1379. He was born on October 4, 1379. He died in 1406. Henry III became King of Castile and Leon in 1390 upon the death of his father, John I. His father arranged his marriage to Catherine, the daughter of John of Gaunt, as a means to end the conflict between the two men. Henry III was only 9 years old when he was married, and became King at the age of 11. One of his most notable achievements was his push to colonize the Canary Islands. Upon his death in 1406 at the age of 27, he was succeeded by his son John II. Parents: John I of Castile and Leonor of Aragon.
Spouse: Lady Katherine PLANTAGENET of Lancaster. Henry III (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Lady Katherine PLANTAGENET of Lancaster were married in 1388. They were married. Children were: John II of Castille.
Henry IV was born on January 4, 1425. He died in 1474. He is sometimes referred to as Henry IV the Impotent. Parents: John II of Castille and Maria of Aragon.
Spouse: Juana of Portugal. Henry IV and Juana of Portugal were married. Children were: Juana la Beltraneja.
King Henry XIII (KING OF ENGLAND).
Spouse: Queen Catherine of Aragon (QUEEN OF ENGLAND). King Henry XIII (KING OF ENGLAND) and Queen Catherine of Aragon (QUEEN OF ENGLAND) were married.
Hermann of Palatine was born about 929. He died after July 16, 996.
Spouse: Heilwig. Hermann of Palatine and Heilwig were married. Children were: Ezzo of Palatine (Count Palatine).
Hildegarde of Vinzgau was born in 758.
Spouse: Charlemagne (EMPEROR OF THE WEST). Charlemagne (EMPEROR OF THE WEST) and Hildegarde of Vinzgau were married in 771. Children were: Louis I the Pious of Aquitaine (KING OF FRANCE).
Himiltude.
Spouse: Charlemagne (EMPEROR OF THE WEST). Charlemagne (EMPEROR OF THE WEST) and Himiltude were married about 768.
Hugh of Provence.
Spouse: _____ ______ (mother of Lothaire). Hugh of Provence and _____ ______ (mother of Lothaire) were married. Children were: Lothaire.
Infante Juan was born on June 30, 1478. He died in 1497. "The Prince who died of love" Parents: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN) and Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN).
Irene of Byzantium was born in 1145.
Spouse: Philip HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR). Philip HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR) and Irene of Byzantium were married on May 25, 1197. Children were: Beatrice (Elizabeth) VON HOHENSTAUFEN of Swabia.
Irmengard of Hesbain was born about 778.
Spouse: Louis I the Pious of Aquitaine (KING OF FRANCE). Louis I the Pious of Aquitaine (KING OF FRANCE) and Irmengard of Hesbain were married in 798. Children were: Louis II, the German (KING OF EAST FRANKS).
Isabel was born about 1265. Parents: Alfonso X (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Yolanda (Violante) of Aragon.
Isabel de Limoges was born in 1283. Parents: Sancho IV (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Maria de MOLINA.
Isabel of Aragon (St. Elizabeth of Portugal) was born in 1271. She died on July 4, 1336. Also known as the "Peacemaker", she was named after her great-aunt, Elizabeth of Hungary. She was educated and lived very piously, and was married at a young age. Her husband's court was very corrupt, but Elizabeth did her best to win her husband's affections, while still pursuing her religious beliefs, being especially devoted to the poor and sick. Elizabeth finally, through prayer and unfailing sweetness, succeeded in reforming her husband, but by then he was late in life. Their son, Alfonso, so resented the favors the King showed to his illegitimate sons that, in 1323, he declared war against his father. Elizabeth rode between the two opposing armies and succeeded in reconciling her husband and son. After her husband died in 1325, she retired to a convent of Poor Clares which she had founded at Coimbra. She took the Franciscan Tertiary habit, devoting the rest of her life to the poor and sick. However, she had to act as peacemaker once more when, in 1336, her son Alfonso IV, the new King of Portugal, marched against the King of Castile, to whom he had married his daughter Maria, and who had neglected and mis-treated her. She went to Estremoz where the two opposing armies were fighting, stopped the fighting and arranged a peace between the two kingdoms. This great effort brought on her final illness, and she died of a fever shortly afterward. She is interred at the convent at Coimbre. She was canonized by Pope Urban VIII in 1625; her feast day is July 8. Parents: Pedro III (KING OF ARAGON) and Constantia.
Spouse: Denis the Laborer (KING OF PORTUGAL & ALGARVE). Denis the Laborer (KING OF PORTUGAL & ALGARVE) and Isabel of Aragon (St. Elizabeth of Portugal) were married. Children were: Constanza of Portugal, Alfonso IV "O Osado" (KING OF PORTUGAL & ALGARVE).
Isabella of Asturias was born on October 2, 1470. Parents: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN) and Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN).
Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN) was born on April 22, 1451. She died on November 26, 1504. Parents: John II of Castille and Isabella of Portugal.
Spouse: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN). Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN) and Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN) were married on October 19, 1469. Children were: Isabella of Asturias, Infante Juan, Juana (The Mad), Mary, Queen Catherine of Aragon (QUEEN OF ENGLAND).
Isabella of Portugal was born in 1428. She died on August 15, 1496. Parents: Joao of Portugal and Isabella de BRAGANCA.
Spouse: John II of Castille. John II of Castille and Isabella of Portugal were married in August 1447. Children were: Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN), Alfonso of the Asturias.
Jaime (Juan) of Castile (sn de los Cameros) was born before August 11, 1268. Parents: Alfonso X (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Yolanda (Violante) of Aragon.
Jaime I the Conqueror (KING OF ARAGON) was born in 1208. He died in 1276. Parents: Pedro II the Catholic (KING OF ARAGON) and Maria of Montepellier.
Spouse: Leonor of Castile. Jaime I the Conqueror (KING OF ARAGON) and Leonor of Castile were married on February 6, 1221. They were divorced in 1229.
Spouse: Yolande (Violante) of Hungary. Jaime I the Conqueror (KING OF ARAGON) and Yolande (Violante) of Hungary were married. Children were: Yolanda (Violante) of Aragon.
Queen Joanna Enriquez was born in 1425. She died on February 13, 1468. Her father was Fadrique Enriquez, Count of Malgar y Rueda.
Spouse: John II of Aragon (KING OF ARAGON & NAVARRO). John II of Aragon (KING OF ARAGON & NAVARRO) and Queen Joanna Enriquez were married on April 1, 1444. Children were: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN), Juana of Aragon, Maria of Aragon (Infanta of Aragon).
Joao of Portugal was born on January 13, 1400.
Spouse: Isabella de BRAGANCA. Joao of Portugal and Isabella de BRAGANCA were married. Children were: Isabella of Portugal.
John I of Castile was born on August 24, 1358. He died on October 9, 1390. John I succeeded his father, Henry II, as King of Castile and Leon in 1379. He tried to unite the Castilian and Portuguese crowns but was twice defeated in battle by the Portuguese. He was more successful in defending his crown when it was threatened by John of Gaunt, who was claiming the throne through his marriage to Constance, daughter of Peter the Cruel who had been killed and removed as King by Henry II, the father of John I. The power struggle was finally ended when John I married his 9-year old son Henry to Catherine, the daughter of John of Gaunt. Henry succeeded him as King of Castile and Leon and became known as Henry III. Parents: Henry II of Castile (KING OF CASTILE) and Juana Manuel de Castilla (sna de Villena).
Spouse: Leonor of Aragon. John I of Castile and Leonor of Aragon were married on June 18, 1375. Children were: Henry III (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON), Ferdinand I (KING OF ARAGON & SICILY).
Spouse: Beatriz of Portugal (QUEEN OF PORTUGAL). John I of Castile and Beatriz of Portugal (QUEEN OF PORTUGAL) were married in May 1383.
John II of Aragon (KING OF ARAGON & NAVARRO) was born on June 29, 1398. He died on January 19, 1479. Also known as John II of Trastamara, he became King of Navarre in 1425 after marrying Blanche, the heiress of the Kingdom of Navarre. After his wife died in 1442, Navarre was ruled by their son Charles of Viana. Soon, however, a power struggle developed between father and son, leading to civil war in Navarre. Charles escaped to Italy leaving his father John II to rule Navarre.
He succeeded his brother Alfonso V in 1458 and became King of Aragon and Sicily, and ruled Catalonia as the Count of Barcelona. An uprising in Catalonia in 1461 forced John II to recognize Charles as his heir; however, Charles died that very same year. This led to the expulsion of John II from Catalonia, and Rene of Anjou was chosen to be Count of Barcelona. In 1472, John II succeeded in pacifying and reclaiming Catalonia.
In 1468, John II passed the Kingdom of Sicily to his son Ferdinand II. Upon the death of John II in 1479, Ferdinand II also inherited the Kingdom of Aragon and Catalonia. (Ferdinand II was also known as Ferdinand the Catholic and later became King Ferdinand V of Castille after marrying Queen Isabella of Castille. The Kingdom of Navarre, upon the death of John II, passed through his daughter Leonor to the house of Foix, into which she had married. Parents: Ferdinand I (KING OF ARAGON & SICILY) and Leonor Urrac de Castilla de Albuquerque.
Spouse: Blanche of Navarre. John II of Aragon (KING OF ARAGON & NAVARRO) and Blanche of Navarre were married on January 18, 1420. Children were: Carlos of Viana, Juana of Aragon (Infanta of Aragon), Blanca of Aragon, Eleanor of Navarre.
Spouse: Queen Joanna Enriquez. John II of Aragon (KING OF ARAGON & NAVARRO) and Queen Joanna Enriquez were married on April 1, 1444. Children were: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN), Juana of Aragon, Maria of Aragon (Infanta of Aragon).
John II of Castille was born on March 6, 1405. He died on July 20, 1454. Parents: Henry III (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Lady Katherine PLANTAGENET of Lancaster.
Spouse: Maria of Aragon. John II of Castille and Maria of Aragon were married on August 4, 1420. Children were: Catalina of the Asturias, Leonor of the Asturias, Henry IV, Maria of Castile.
Spouse: Isabella of Portugal. John II of Castille and Isabella of Portugal were married in August 1447. Children were: Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN), Alfonso of the Asturias.
John of Gaunt was born in 1340. He died in 1399. John of Gaunt married Blanche, the heiress of Lancaster, in 1359 and thus became Earl of Lancaster in 1361 and Duke of Lancaster in 1362. His wife's holdings made him one of the wealthiest men in England, and enabled him to become one of England's most influential nobles. He served under his brother, Edward the Black Prince, in the Hundred Years War and in the campaign of help Peter the Cruel of Castile in 1367.
After his first wife died, John of Gaunt, married Constance of Castile, the daughter of Peter the Cruel, in 1371. Peter the Cruel had been killed by his half-brother, Henry II, in 1369. Through his marriage to Constance, John of Gaunt was able to make a claim to the throne of Castile. His brother, Edward the Black Prince, fell ill during the French campaign of 1370-71 and John of Gaunt left to take chief command, but accomplished little in that campaign. After a truce was called in 1375, John of Gaunt returned to England and allied himself with the corrupt court party led by Alice Perrers, the mistress of his aging father, Edward III. In effect, John of Gaunt actually ruled England for a short time, but his party was removed from power by the Good Parliament in 1376. He soon restored his power and influence and became one of the most powerful men in the goverment, devoting himself primarily to military matters.
In 1386, he allied himself with the King of Portugal, John I, who had married one of John of Gaunt's daughters, and led an expedition against John I of Castile in an attempt to make good his claim to the Castilian throne. His expediition was unsuccessful, but John of Gaunt and John I of Castile reached a truce in 1388 by agreeing to the marriage of John of Gaunt's daughter, Catherine, with Henry III, the 9-year old son of John I of Castile.
John of Gaunt returned to England in 1389 where he was made Duke of Aquitaine. In 1396, he married Catherine Swynford, who had been his mistress for many years. He had his illegitimate children by her, under the name of Beaufort, declared legitimate. He died in 1399, soon after his eldest son, the Duke of Hereford, had been exiled by the King. (The Duke of Hereford later became Henry IV, first of the royal line of Lancaster.) Parents: Edward III of England and _____ (spouse of Edward III).
Spouse: Blanche of Lancaster. John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster were married in 1359.
Spouse: Constance of Castile. John of Gaunt and Constance of Castile were married in 1371. Children were: Lady Katherine PLANTAGENET of Lancaster.
Spouse: Catherine SWYNFORD. John of Gaunt and Catherine SWYNFORD were married in 1396.
Juan de Castile (sn de Badajoz) was born in 1341. Parents: Alfonso XI and Leonora de Guzman.
Juan of Castile (Infant of Castile) was born before April 1264. Parents: Alfonso X (KING OF CASTILE AND LEON) and Yolanda (Violante) of Aragon.
Juana (The Mad) was born on November 6, 1479. She died in 1555. Parents: Ferdinand (KING OF SPAIN) and Isabella of Castille (QUEEN OF SPAIN).
Spouse: Phillip I (The Beautiful). Phillip I (The Beautiful) and Juana (The Mad) were married. Children were: KING Charles I (KING OF SPAIN).
Juana Alfonsa. Parents: Alfonso XI and Leonora de Guzman.
Juana de Castro.
Spouse: Peter the Cruel. Peter the Cruel and Juana de Castro were married in 1354. There is some confusion here as to the spouses and dates of marriage.
Juana la Beltraneja was born in 1462. She died in 1530. Juana was widely believed to have been fathered by Beltran de la Cueva, the court favorite. For that reason, she was usually referred to as Juana la Beltraneja. The Cortes of Castile, however, recognized her as the legitimate heiress to the throne. Castilian nobles, however, refused to recognize Juana as the rightful heiress and forced Henry IV to designate his half-brother, Alfonso, as his successor. Alfonso died in 1468 and Henry IV then designated his half-sister Isabella to be his successor. When Isabella married Ferdinand II of Aragon, Henry IV changed his mind and in 1470 again recognized Juana as his heir. However, when Henry IV died in 1474, Isabella took the opportunity to seize the throne. Juana had her own supporters and they arranged for her marriage to Alfonso V of Portugal, and thus obtained his help to try to regain the throne. Isabella defeated Alfonso V in a battle at Toro in 1476, ending the threat to her rule. Isabella received recognition as Queen of Castille in 1479. And, Juana retired to a convent in Portugal. Parents: Henry IV and Juana of Portugal.
Juana Manuel de Castilla (sna de Villena) was born in 1339. She died on March 27, 1381. Parents: Blanca.
Spouse: Henry II of Castile (KING OF CASTILE). Henry II of Castile (KING OF CASTILE) and Juana Manuel de Castilla (sna de Villena) were married on July 27, 1350. Children were: John I of Castile, Leonor of Castile (Infanta of Castile), Juana of Castile (Infanta of Castile).
