Saviour of Castile

Pretender Henry of Trastámara recruited bloodthirsty mercenaries from France to unseat King Peter the Cruel from the Castilian throne – not once but twice

Words WILLIAM E WELSH

King Peter I of Castile lost no time in settling scores against members of his extended family when he took the throne in 1350. As his first order of business, he imprisoned Leonor de Guzmán, the mistress of his father, Alfonso XI, who had given him ten children. He also executed many of his illegitimate half-brothers on suspicion of treason in the years that followed. Another act of nastiness concerned his teenage bride. In a half-hearted attempt to ally his kingdom with France, Peter had agreed to marry Blanche de Bourbon, the sister-in-law of Dauphin Charles. Two days after the wedding in June 1353, he suddenly cast her aside in favour of his mistress María de Padilla. The black-hearted monarch ordered Blanche confined indefinitely, and in all likelihood was responsible…

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History Of Royals (Digital) - 1 Issue, No. 20

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