Anglo-Spanish relations at the highest level go back some time as is borne out by the following.
In the post The Middle Ages in Murcia. The Muslim rule, we explained how in 1212 the Almohads suffered a major defeat at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa against the Christian army led by King Alfonso VIII of Castile. What was not said is that Alfonso VIII was the brother-in-law of Richard the Lionheart.
In 1170 Alfonso VIII married Eleanor Plantagenet, or of England, the daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, also the parents of Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, among others.
Eleanor of England was a queen consort with great political influence. She had at least ten sons, possibly more. Two of them were kings: Enrique I of Castile and Berenguela I of Castile.
By 1180 the Castilian monarch and his wife decided to found the monastery of Cistercian nuns of Las Huelgas de Burgos, that was elected by Alfonso VIII and Eleanor as a royal tomb for themselves and their descendants (if passing through Burgos, be sure to visit it).
The queen ordered that a chapel dedicated to St Thomas Becket (of Canterbury) be built in the Cathedral of Toledo. It was the first chapel dedicated to the British saint outside the British Isles.
In 1183, Eleanor also ordered that a cathedral be built on the site of a mosque in Cuenca, a city that had recently been reconquered.
Alfonso VIII and Eleanor were married for 44 years. Both died in 1214, within a few weeks of each other.
In the post The Middle Ages in Murcia. The Muslim rule, we explained how in 1212 the Almohads suffered a major defeat at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa against the Christian army led by King Alfonso VIII of Castile. What was not said is that Alfonso VIII was the brother-in-law of Richard the Lionheart.
In 1170 Alfonso VIII married Eleanor Plantagenet, or of England, the daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, also the parents of Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, among others.
Eleanor of England was a queen consort with great political influence. She had at least ten sons, possibly more. Two of them were kings: Enrique I of Castile and Berenguela I of Castile.
By 1180 the Castilian monarch and his wife decided to found the monastery of Cistercian nuns of Las Huelgas de Burgos, that was elected by Alfonso VIII and Eleanor as a royal tomb for themselves and their descendants (if passing through Burgos, be sure to visit it).
The queen ordered that a chapel dedicated to St Thomas Becket (of Canterbury) be built in the Cathedral of Toledo. It was the first chapel dedicated to the British saint outside the British Isles.
In 1183, Eleanor also ordered that a cathedral be built on the site of a mosque in Cuenca, a city that had recently been reconquered.
Alfonso VIII and Eleanor were married for 44 years. Both died in 1214, within a few weeks of each other.
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| Tomb of Alfonso VIII and Eleanor Plantagenet in the Monastery of Las Huelgas de Burgos. Source: Wikipedia / Sepulcro de Alfonso VIII y Leonor Plantagenet en el Monasterio de las Huelgas de Burgos. Fuente: Wikipedia |
En la entrada La Edad Media en Murcia. El dominio musulmán, contamos como en el año 1212 los almohades sufrieron una gran derrota en la batalla de las Navas de Tolosa ante el ejército cristiano comandado por el rey de Castilla Alfonso VIII. Lo que no dijimos es que Alfonso VIII era cuñado de Ricardo Corazón de León.
Alfonso VIII casó en 1170 con Leonor Plantagenet, o de Inglaterra, hija del rey inglés Enrique II de Inglaterra y de Leonor de Aquitania, padres también del citado Ricardo Corazón de León y de Juan Sin Tierra, entre otros.
Leonor de Inglaterra fue una reina consorte con gran influencia política. Tuvo al menos 10 hijos, posiblemente más. Dos de ellos fueron reyes: Enrique I de Castilla y Berenguela I de Castilla.
Hacia 1180 el monarca castellano y su esposa decidieron fundar el monasterio de monjas cistercienses de las Huelgas de Burgos, que fue elegido por Alfonso VIII y Leonor como panteón real para ellos y sus descendientes (si pasa por Burgos, no deje de visitarlo).
La reina ordenó edificar en la catedral de Toledo una capilla dedicada a Santo Tomás Becket (o de Canterbury). Fue la primera dedicada al santo británico fuera de las Islas Británicas.
En 1183, Leonor ordenó también que se comenzase a construir una catedral sobre el solar de una mezquita de Cuenca, ciudad que había sido reconquistada recientemente.
Alfonso VIII y Leonor estuvieron casados 44 años. Ambos fallecieron en 1214, con pocas semanas de diferencia.
English links / Enlaces en inglés
Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas
Eleanor of Aquitaine
The Middle Ages in Murcia. The Muslim rule
Spanish links / Enlaces en español
Leonor Plantagenet
Alfonso VIII de Castilla
Sepultura de Alfonso VIII y Leonor Plantagenet
Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas
Leonor de Aquitania
La Edad Media en Murcia. El dominio musulmán
Recommended video (in Spanish) / Vídeo recomendado (en español)
Leonor Plantagenet (Mujeres en la Historia. RTVE.es A la Carta)
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