Alfonso VIII, centre, and Queen Eleanor, left.

Alfonso VIII (11 November 1155 – 5 October 1214), called the Noble or Él de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate. After having suffered a great defeat with his own army at Alarcos against the Almohads, he led the coalition of Christian princes and foreign crusaders who broke the power of the Almohads in the Battle of the Navas de Tolosa in 1212, an event which marked the arrival of an irreversible tide of Christian supremacy on the Iberian peninsula. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Events Frederick I Barbarossa crowned Holy Roman Emperor. ... is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Simon Apulia becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... This is a list of kings and queens of Castile. ... Events January 11 - Vladislav II becomes King of Bohemia End of the formal reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also the beginning of his cloistered rule, which will last to his death in 1192. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Almohad Dynasty (From Arabic الموحدون al-Muwahhidun, i. ... Battle of Alarcos (July 18, 1195), was a great victory of Almohad ruler Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur over the Castilian King Alfonso VIII; also referred as the Disaster of Alarcos due to the magnitude of the Castilian defeat. ... The July 16, 1212 battle of Las Navas de Tolosa is considered a major turning point in the history of Medieval Iberia. ... Events The first Great Fire of London burns most of the city to the ground Battle of Navas de Tolosa Childrens crusade Crusaders push the Muslims out of northern Spain In Japan, Kamo no Chōmei writes the Hōjōki, one of the great works of classical Japanese... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ...

His reign saw the domination of Castile over León and, by his alliance with Aragon, he drew those two spheres of Christian Iberia into close connection. Coat of arms Kingdom of Castile in the 15th century. ... Coat of arms Kingdom of León, 1030 Capital León Language(s) Mainly Latin and Astur-Leonese. ...

Regency and civil war

Alfonso was born to Sancho III of Castile and Blanca of Navarre, daughter of García VI of Navarre, in Soria on 11 November 1155. He was named after his grandfather Alfonso VII. His early life resembled that of other medieval kings. His father died in 1158 when his mother was also dead. Though proclaimed king when only three years of age, he was regarded as a mere name by the unruly nobles to whom a minority was convenient. Immediately, Castile was plunged into conflicts between the various noble houses vying for ascendancy in the inevitable regency. The Lara and Castro both claimed the regency, as did the boy's uncle, Ferdinand II of León. The devotion of a squire of his household, who carried him on the pommel of his saddle to the stronghold of San Esteban de Gormaz, saved him from falling into the hands of the contending factions. Sancho III of Castile (1134 – August 30, 1158), called el Deseado (The Desired), was King of Castile for one year, from 1157 to 1158. ... García VI Ramírez (died 21 November 1150, Lorca), called the Restorer (Spanish: el Restaurador), was lord of Monzón, and in 1134 became King of Navarre. ... Soria is a city in north-central Spain, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. ... Alfonso VII of Castile (March 1, 1104/5 _ August 21, 1157), nicknamed the Emperor, was the king of Castile and Leon since 1126, son of Urraca of Castile and Count Raymond (the third?) of Burgundy. ... Ferdinand II, king of Leon (d. ... San Esteban de Gormaz is a municipality in the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon, Spain. ...

He was put in the custody of the loyal village Ávila. At barely fifteen, he came forth to do a man's work by restoring his kingdom to order. It was only by a surprise that he recovered his capital Toledo from the hands of the Laras. Complete name of this city: Ávila de los Caballeros Ávila is a town in the south of Old Castile, the capital of the province of the same name, now part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. ... For other uses, see Toledo (disambiguation). ...

Reconquista

In 1174, he ceded Uclés to the Order of Santiago and afterwards this became the order's principal seat. From Uclés, he began a campaign which culminated in the reconquest of Cuenca in 1177. The city surrendered on 21 September, the feast of Saint Matthew, ever afterwards celebrated by the citizens of the town. Events Vietnam is given the official name of Annam by China. ... Uclés is a municipality located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. ... 17th century interpretation of saint James as the Moor-killer from the Peruvian school of Cuzco. ... List of cities called Cuenca: Cuenca, Ecuador Joara, la Florida, Native American settlement renamed Cuenca by Spanish Cuenca, Spain, the capital of Cuenca province. ... Events November 25 - Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and Raynald of Chatillon defeat Saladin at the Battle of Montgisard. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Matthew the Evangelist (מתי Gift of the LORD, Standard Hebrew and Tiberian Hebrew Mattay; Septuagint Greek Ματθαιος, Matthaios) is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew. ...

Alfonso took the initiative to ally all the major Christian kingdoms of the peninsula — Navarre, León, Portugal, and Aragon — against the Almohads. By the Treaty of Cazorla of 1179, the zones of expansion of each kingdom were defined. The Kingdom of Navarre (Basque: Nafarroako Erresuma) was a European state which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean. ... Coat of arms Kingdom of León, 1030 Capital León Language(s) Mainly Latin and Astur-Leonese. ... Capital Zaragoza Area  – Total  – % of Spain Ranked 4th  47 719 km²  9,4% Population  – Total (2003)  – % of Spain  – Density Ranked 11th  1 217 514  2,9%  25,51/km² Demonym  – English  – Spanish  Aragonese  aragonés Statute of Autonomy August 16, 1982 ISO 3166... The Almohad Dynasty (From Arabic الموحدون al-Muwahhidun, i. ... The Treaty of Cazorla or Cazola was signed in 1179 in Soria between Alfonso II of Aragon and Alfonso VIII of Castile. ... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is...

After founding Plasencia (Cáceres) in 1186, he embarked on a major initiative to unite the Castilian nobility around the Reconquista. In that year, he recuperated part of La Rioja from the Kingdom of Navarre. The following places are called Cáceres: The Cáceres province in Spain. ... Events John the Chanter becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... Capital Logroño Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 16th  5 045 km²  1,0% Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 17th   281 614  0,7%  55,82/km² Demonym  â€“ English  â€“ Spanish  â€”  riojano/a Statute of Autonomy June 9, 1982 Parliament  â€“ Congress seats  â€“ Senate seats  4  1 President Pedro Sanz... The Kingdom of Navarre (Basque: Nafarroako Erresuma) was a European state which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean. ...

In 1195, after the treaty with the Almohads was broken, he came to the defence of Alarcos on the river Guadiana, then the principal Castilian town in the region. At the subsequent Battle of Alarcos, he was roundly defeated by the caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Mansur. The reoccupation of the surrounding territory by the Almohads was quickly commenced with Calatrava falling first. For the next seventeen years, the frontier between Moor and Castilian was fixed in the hill country just outside Toledo. Events Priory of St Marys, Bushmead, founded. ... Guadiana (Latin Anas, Spanish Guadiana, Portuguese Guadiana) - one of the major rivers of Spain, part of it is the border with Portugal, ends in the Atlantic Ocean. ... Battle of Alarcos (July 18, 1195), was a great victory of Almohad ruler Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur over the Castilian King Alfonso VIII; also referred as the Disaster of Alarcos due to the magnitude of the Castilian defeat. ... Calatrava is known for his organically inspired designs, such as LUmbracle at his Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia. ...

Statue of Alfonso VIII at the Sabatini Gardens in Madrid (J. Villanueva, 1753).

Finally, in 1212, through the mediation of Pope Innocent III, a crusade was called against the Almohads. Castilians under Alfonso, Aragonese and Catalans under Peter II, Navarrese under Sancho VII, and Franks under the archbishop Arnold of Narbonne all flocked to the effort. The military orders also lent their support. Calatrava first, then Alarcos, and finally Benavente were captured before a final battle was fought at Las Navas de Tolosa near Santa Elena on 16 July. The caliph Muhammad an-Nasir was routed and Almohad power broken. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 277 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (474 × 1024 pixel, file size: 341 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Statue of Alfonso VIII of Castile (1155–1214) at the Sabatini Gardens in Madrid (Spain). ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 277 × 598 pixelsFull resolution (474 × 1024 pixel, file size: 341 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Statue of Alfonso VIII of Castile (1155–1214) at the Sabatini Gardens in Madrid (Spain). ... Sabatini Gardens, ca. ... Motto: (Spanish for From Madrid to Heaven) Location Coordinates: , Country Spain Autonomous Community Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid Province Madrid Administrative Divisions 21 Neighborhoods 127 Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jimémez (PP) Area  - Land 607 km² (234. ... 1753 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Pope Innocent III (c. ... Peter II of Aragon (1174 – September 12, 1213), surnamed the Catholic, was the king of Aragon (as Pedro II) and count of Barcelona (as Pere I) from 1196 to 1213. ... Sancho in stained glass in the church at Roncesvalles. ... Coat of Arms Benavente is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 521. ... The July 16, 1212 battle of Las Navas de Tolosa is considered a major turning point in the history of Medieval Iberia. ... Santa Elena, the Spanish-language name of Saint Helen, is often used as a toponym in parts of the world where that tongue is or was spoken: Santa Elena, Argentina Santa Elena, Belize Santa Elena, La Paz department, Honduras Santa Elena, El Petén department, Guatemala Santa Elena, Campeche, Mexico... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Muhammad an-Nâsir (الناصر لدين الله محمد بن المنصور an-nāṣir li-dīn allah muḥammad ben al-manṣūr...

Cultural legacy

Alfonso was the founder of the first Spanish university, a studium generale at Palencia, which, however, did not survive him. His court also served as an important instrument for Spanish cultural achievement. His marriage (Burgos, September 1170) with Eleanor (Leonora), daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, brought him under the influence of the greatest governing intellect of his time. Troubadours and sages were always present, largely due to the influence of Eleanor. Studium Generale is the old name for a medieval university which was registered as an institution of international excellence by the Holy Roman Empire. ... Location Location of Palencia Coordinates : Time Zone : General information Native name Palencia (Spanish) Spanish name Palencia Postal code 34--- Website http://www. ... The cathedral Our Lady of Burgos. ... December 29: Assassination of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury cathedral City of Dublin captured by the Normans According to folklore, the Welsh prince Madoc sailed to North America and founded a colony. ... Queen Leonora (October 13, 1162 – October 31, 1214), was born as Princess Eleanor of England (and Aquitaine) and became Leonora, Queen of Castile as wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile. ... Henry II of England 5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as King of England (1154–1189), Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. ... Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine (Aliénor dAquitaine in French), Duchess of Aquitaine and Gascony and Countess of Poitou (1122[1] –April 1, 1204) was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Europe during the High Middle Ages. ...

Alfonso died at Gutierre-Muñoz and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Henry I, named after his maternal grandfather. Gutierre-Muñoz is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. ... Henry I of Castile, king of Castile and Leon, son of Alfonso VIII of Castile, and his wife Eleonor Plantegenet, (daughter of Henry II of England and Eleonor of Aquitaine), was born in 1204. ...

Alfonso was the subject for Lion Feuchtwanger's novel Die Jüdin von Toledo (The Jewess of Toledo), in which is narrated an affair with a Jewish subject in medieval Toledo in a time when Spain was known to be the land of tolerance and learning for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The titular Jewish woman of the novel is based on Alfonso's historical paramour, Rahel la Fermosa. Lion Feuchtwanger (pseudonym: J.L. Wetcheek) (7 July 1884 - 21 December 1958) was a German-Jewish novelist who was imprisoned in a French internment camp in Les Milles and later escaped to Los Angeles with the help of his wife, Marta. ... This article describes the book by Lion Feuchtwanger. ... Rahel la Fermosa (Ladino for Rachel the Beautiful) was a Jewish woman who lived in Toledo, Spain in the twelfth century. ...

Children

With Eleanor, he had 12 children:

• Berenguela, Queen of Castile (August 1180 - 8 November 1246), married King Alfonso IX of Leon
• Sancho of Castile (born & died 1181)
• Sancha of Castile (1182 - 3 February 1184)
• Henry of Castile (born & died 1184)
• Urraca, princess of Castile (1186-1220), married King Alfonso II of Portugal
• Blanca of Castile (4 March 1188 - 26 November 1252), married King Louis VIII of France
• Fernando of Castile (29 September 1189 - 1211)
• Mafalda of Castile (1191-1204)
• Constance of Castile (1195-1198)
• Leonor of Castile (1200-1244), married King James I of Aragon
• Constanza, nun at Las Huelgas (1201-1243)
• Henry I, King of Castile (14 April 1204 - 1217)

Berenguela (or Berengaria) (1180 – November 8, 1246), was briefly queen of Castile and León. ... Events April 13 - Frederick Barbarossa issues the Gelnhausen Charter November 18 - France Emperor Antoku succeds Emperor Takakura as emperor of Japan Afonso I of Portugal is taken prisoner by Ferdinand II of Leon Artois is annexed by France Prince Mochihito amasses a large army and instigates the Genpei War between... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Saga, emperor of Japan. ... Alfonso IX of León (August 15, 1171 â€“ September 23 or 24, 1230; ruled from 1188–1230), first cousin of Alfonso VIII of Castile, and numbered next to him as being a junior member of the family, is said by Ibn Khaldun to have been called the Baboso or Slobberer... Events Jayavarman VII assumes control of the Khmer kingdom. ... Events Canute VI crowned king of Denmark. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events Abbeville receives its commercial charter. ... // Events Abbeville receives its commercial charter. ... Urraca (1186 - 1220) was the daughter of Alfonso VIII and Leonora of Aquitaine. ... Events John the Chanter becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... // The world in 1220 Middle Ages in Europe Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Events Mongols first invade Abbasid caliphate - Bukhara and Samarkand taken End of the Kara-Khitan Khanate, destroyed by Genghis Khans Mongolian cavalry Dominican Order approved by Pope Honorius III Frederick II crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope... Afonso II of Portugal, known as the Fat, third king of Portugal, was born in Coimbra in April 23, 1185 and died in March 25, 1223 in the same city. ... Blanche of Castile (March 4, 1188 – November 26, 1252), wife of Louis VIII of France. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Saladin unsuccessfully besieges the Hospitaller fortress of Krak des Chevaliers in modern Syria. ... is the 330th day of the year (331st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For broader historical context, see 1250s and 13th century. ... Louis VIII the Lion (5 September 1187 – 8 November 1226) reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 21 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade September 3- Richard I of England is crowned as king of England. ... // Events The oldest extant double entry bookkeeping record dates from 1211 Canons regular of the Order of the Holy Cross founded September 14 1211 Troops led by Estonian resistance fighter Lembitu of Lehola destroy a garrison of missionaries in the historical Estonian region of Sakala and raid the Russian town... // Events May 12 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. ... [Neilhughandafriendlypeasant. ... Events Priory of St Marys, Bushmead, founded. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Toba of Japan Emperor Tsuchimikado ascends to the throne of Japan January 8 - Pope Innocent III ascends Papal Throne Frederick II, infant son of German King Henry VI, crowned King of Sicily Births August 24 - Alexander II of Scotland (d. ... Events University of Paris receives charter from Philip II of France The Kanem-Bornu Empire was established in northern Africa around the year 1200 Mongol victory over Northern China — 30,000,000 killed Births Al-Abhari, Persian philosopher and mathematician (died 1265) Ulrich von Liechtenstein, German nobleman and poet (died... This article is about the year 1244. ... James I of Aragon. ... // The town of Riga was chartered as a city. ... // Events Innocent IV was elected pope. ... Henry I of Castile, king of Castile and Leon, son of Alfonso VIII of Castile, and his wife Eleonor Plantegenet, (daughter of Henry II of England and Eleonor of Aquitaine), was born in 1204. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... [Neilhughandafriendlypeasant. ... April 9 - Peter of Courtenay crowned emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople at Rome, by Pope Honorius III May 20 - First Barons War, royalist victory at Lincoln. ...

Notes

References

• COSTA, Ricardo da. "Love and Crime, Chastisement and Redemption in Glory in the Crusade of Reconquest: Alfonso VIII of Castile in the battles of Alarcos (1195) and Las Navas de Tolosa (1212)". In: OLIVEIRA, Marco A. M. de (org.). Guerras e Imigrações. Campo Grande: Editora da UFMS, 2004, p. 73-94 (ISBN 85-7613-023-8).

• Vicaire, M.-H. "Une ambassade dans les Marches," in Pierre Mandonnet, Saint Dominique: l'idée, l'homme et l'oeuvre Vol. 1. Desclée De Brouwer: Paris, 1938.