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Biography of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Paternal Family Tree: Ivrea

Maternal Family Tree: Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche 1129

1189 Death of King Henry II

1189 Coronation of King Richard I

1189 Richard I Appoints his Bishops

1191 Marriage of King Richard I and Berengaria of Navarre

1199 Death of Richard I

1199 Coronation of King John

In 1151 [his father] Sancho III King Castile (age 17) and [his mother] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile (age 17) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of [his grandfather] García "Restorer" IV King Navarre and [his grandmother] Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre. He the son of [his grandfather] Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon (age 45) and [his grandmother] Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon. They were fourth cousins.

On 11th November 1155 Alfonso VIII King Castile was born to Sancho III King Castile (age 21) and Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile (age 22).

On 12th August 1156 [his mother] Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile (age 23) died.

On 31st August 1158 [his father] Sancho III King Castile (age 24) died. His son Alfonso (age 2) succeeded VIII King Castile.

Before 17th September 1177 Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 21) and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 15) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 44) and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 55). He the son of Sancho III King Castile and Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile. They were half fourth cousins.

In 1179 [his daughter] Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 23) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 17). She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

In July 1181 [his brother-in-law] Geoffrey Plantagenet 2nd Duke Brittany (age 22) and Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany (age 20) were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany. He by marriage Duke Brittany. She the daughter of Conan "The Young" Penthièvre IV Duke Brittany and Margaret Dunkeld Duchess Brittany (age 36). He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 48) and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 59). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 19th August 1186 [his brother-in-law] Geoffrey Plantagenet 2nd Duke Brittany (age 27) died at Paris [Map].

On 28th May 1187 [his daughter] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 31) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 25). She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 4th March 1188 [his daughter] Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 32) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 26). She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 28th June 1189 [his sister-in-law] Matilda Plantagenet Duchess Saxony (age 33) died. She was buried at Brunswick Cathedral [Map].

Death of King Henry II

On 6th July 1189 [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 56) died at Chinon Castle [Map]. William Mandeville 3rd Earl Essex Count Aumale was present. He was buried at Fontevraud Abbey [Map]. His son [his brother-in-law] Richard (age 31) succeeded I King of England.

On 29th August 1189 [his brother-in-law] King John of England (age 22) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 16) were married at Marlborough Castle [Map]. He by marriage Earl Gloucester. See Gesta Regis Henrici and Gesta Regis Henrici by Benedict of Peterborough. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 67). They were half second cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Coronation of King Richard I

On 3rd September 1189 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 31) was crowned I King of England by Archbishop Baldwin Avigo (age 64) at Westminster Abbey [Map]. William Mandeville 3rd Earl Essex Count Aumale carried the Crown. The Coronation of King Richard I was marred by violence against London's Jewish population. Prior to his Coronation Richard had issued a proclamation forbidding Jews to attend. When some did a riot broke out, which spread.

Richard I Appoints his Bishops

On 15th September 1189 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 32) held a Council meeting at Pipewell [Map] at which he appointed a number of Bishops:

Bishop William Longchamp was elected Bishop of Ely.

Bishop Godfrey Lucy was elected Bishop of Winchester.

Bishop Richard Fitzneal (age 59) was elected Bishop of London.

Archbishop Hubert Walter (age 29) was elected Bishop of Salisbury.

In 1191 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Archbishop Geoffrey Plantagenet (age 39) was appointed Archbishop of York.

Marriage of King Richard I and Berengaria of Navarre

On 12th May 1191 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 33) and Berengaria of Navarre Queen Consort England (age 26) were married at Chapel of St George at Limassol Castle [Map]. She was crowned Queen Consort England the same day by the Hélie de Malemort, archbishop of Bordeaux, Jean aka John Fitz Luke, bishop of Évreux and Bernard II de Lacarre, Bishop of Bayonne. She the daughter of [his uncle] Sancho "Wise" King Navarre (age 59) and [his aunt] Sancha Ivrea. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 69). They were half fourth cousins.

Richard's mother and sister Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily (age 25) were present.

In 1194 Raymond Rouerge Marquess Provence (age 37) succeeded Marquess Provence. [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily (age 28) by marriage Marchioness Provence.

In 1196 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] William "Longsword" Longespee Earl Salisbury (age 20) and Ela of Salisbury 3rd Countess of Salisbury (age 9) were married. He by marriage Earl Salisbury. She the daughter of William of Salisbury 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 46) and Eleanor Vitre Countess of Salisbury (age 38). He the illegitmate son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Ida Tosny Countess Norfolk (age 40). They were fifth cousin once removed.

In October 1196 Raymond Rouerge Marquess Provence (age 39) and [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily (age 31) were married at Rouen, France [Map]. She by marriage Countess Toulose. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 74). He the son of Raymond Rouerge V Count Toulose and Constance Capet Countess Boulogne and Toulose. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1197 [his sister-in-law] Alix Capet Countess Blois (age 46) died.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

In 1197 [his son-in-law] Alfonso IX King Leon (age 25) and [his daughter] Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile (age 18) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Leon. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 41) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 35). He the son of [his uncle] Ferdinand II King Leon and Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon (age 49). They were first cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 11th March 1198 [his sister-in-law] Marie Capet Countess Champagne (age 53) died.

Death of Richard I

On 26th March 1199 [his brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 41) was besieging Châlus Chabrol Castle. During the course of the evening King Richard "Lionheart" I of England was shot by a crossbow. The wound quickly became gangrenous; Richard died in the arms of his mother [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 77) on 6th April 1199. His brother [his brother-in-law] John (age 32) succeeded I King of England.

There was a brother between Richard and John named [his brother-in-law] Geoffrey Duke of Brittany who had a son Arthur (age 12), who was around twelve, and a daughter Eleanor (age 15), who was around fifteen, whose mother was Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany (age 38).

King Philip II of France (age 33) had planned for Eleanor to marry his son, probably to bring Brittany into the French Royal family, possibly to pursue a claim on England.

King Philip II of France supported Arthur's claim to the English throne. In the resulting war Arthur was captured, imprisoned and never seen again. Eleanor was captured, probably around the same time as Arthur, and imprisoned, more or less, for the remainder of her life, even after King John's death through the reign of King Henry III since she represented a threat to Henry's succession.

Coronation of King John

On 27th May 1199 [his brother-in-law] King John of England (age 32) was crowned I King of England by Archbishop Hubert Walter (age 39) at Westminster Abbey [Map]. Bishop Herbert Poore attended.

On 4th September 1199 [his sister-in-law] Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily (age 33) died at Rouen, France [Map]. She was buried at Fontevraud Abbey [Map].

Around April 1200 [his brother-in-law] King John of England (age 33) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 27) marriage annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 12) who he married on 24th August 1200.

23rd May 1200 [his son-in-law] King Louis VIII of France (age 12) and [his daughter] Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France (age 12) were married. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 44) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 38). He the son of King Philip II of France (age 34) and Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France. They were third cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 24th August 1200 [his brother-in-law] King John of England (age 33) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 12) were married. She had been engaged to Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche (age 37) who subsequently appealed to King Philip II of France (age 35), their feudal overlord, who used the position to justify a war against John. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême (age 40) and Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême. He the son of [his father-in-law] King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and [his mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 78). They were fourth cousin once removed.

Around 1202 [his daughter] Constance Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 46) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 40). She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 14th April 1204 [his son] Henry I King Castile was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 48) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 42). He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

In 1206 [his son-in-law] Alfonso "Fat" II King Portugal (age 20) and [his daughter] Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 50) and [his wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 44). He the son of Sancho "Populator" I King Portugal (age 51) and Dulce Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal. They were second cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 12th December 1212 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Archbishop Geoffrey Plantagenet (age 60) died at Normandy [Map]. He was buried at Notre Dame du Parc, Rouen.

On 5th October 1214 Alfonso VIII King Castile (age 58) died. He was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map]. His son [his son] Henry (age 10) succeeded I King Castile.

On 31st October 1214 [his former wife] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 53) died at Burgos [Map]. She was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map].

[his son] Sancho Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Sancha Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his son] Ferdinand Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Mafalda Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his daughter] Eleanor Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. She a granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

[his son] Henry Ivrea was born to Alfonso VIII King Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Royal Ancestors of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Kings Franks: Great x 12 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Kings France: Great x 4 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 9 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Royal Descendants of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Eleanor Ivrea Queen Consort Aragon

Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile

Urraca Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal

Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France

Henry I King Castile

Ancestors of Alfonso VIII King Castile 1155-1214

Great x 4 Grandfather: Otto William Ivrea I Count Burgundy

Great x 3 Grandfather: Reginald Ivrea I Count Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ermentrude Countess Burgundy

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Ivrea I Count Burgundy

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Normandy Countess Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Judith Penthièvre Duchess Normandy

Great x 1 Grandfather: Raymond Ivrea

Great x 2 Grandmother: Ettiennette Countess Burgundy

GrandFather: Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon

Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho "Great" III King Pamplona

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ferdinand "Great" I King Leon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Alfonso "Brave" VI King Leon VI King Castile

Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso "Noble" V King Leon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Sancha Astur Leonese

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elvira González Queen Consort Leon

Great x 1 Grandmother: Urracca "Reckless" Jiménez Queen Consort Aragon and Pamplona

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert "Pious" II King France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert I Duke Burgundy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Arles Queen Consort France

Great x 2 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile and Leon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Helie Samur Duchess Burgundy

Father: Sancho III King Castile

GrandMother: Berenguela Barcelona Queen Consort Castile and Leon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Gevaudan

Great x 1 Grandmother: Douce Gevaudan Countess Barcelona

Great x 2 Grandmother: Gerberga Arles

Great x 3 Grandmother: Etienette Countess Provence and Arles

Alfonso VIII King Castile

Great x 4 Grandfather: Sancho "Great" III King Pamplona

Great x 3 Grandfather: García III King Pamplona

Great x 2 Grandfather: Sancho Jiménez

Great x 1 Grandfather: Ramiro Jiménez

Great x 2 Grandmother: Constanza Unknown

GrandFather: García "Restorer" IV King Navarre

Great x 2 Grandfather: Rodrigo Díaz Vivar

Great x 1 Grandmother: Cristina Rodríguez Vivar

Mother: Blanche Ramirez Queen Consort Castile

Great x 2 Grandfather: Engenulphe Aigle

Great x 1 Grandfather: Gilbert Aigle Lord Aigle

Great x 2 Grandmother: Richvaride Unknown

GrandMother: Marguerite Aigle Queen Consort Navarre

Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Chateaudun I Count Perche

Great x 3 Grandfather: Rotrou Chateaudun II Count Perche

Great x 4 Grandmother: Helvise Corbon Viscountess Châteaudun

Great x 2 Grandfather: Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guérin de Domfront

Great x 3 Grandmother: Adeliza de Bellême Countess Perche

Great x 1 Grandmother: Juliette du Perche Chateaudun

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hilduin III Count Montdidier

Great x 3 Grandfather: Hilduin Montdidier IV Count Montdidier

Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrix de Ramerupt Montdidier Countess Mortain and Perche