John II of Castile

John II of Castile ( born March 6, 1405 in Toro, † July 20, 1454 in Valladolid ) was King of Castile and León.

Life

Johann was the son of Henry III. and his wife Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Constance of Castile. He succeeded his father on 25 December 1406 at the age of 22 months. During his minority, his mother and his uncle Ferdinand of Antequera led the government. This double regency proved to be very conflictual and divided the country into two camps. After Catherine and Ferdinand had died in 1416, continued the archbishop of Toledo, Sancho de Rojas, by that the king was declared in 1419 on the occasion of his marriage to Marie of Aragon for age and officially took power.

His reign was from the beginning under the sign of confrontation with the local nobility. His opponents included the sons of his uncle, including John of Aragon, King of Navarre in 1425. It was not until around 1430, he managed to prevail with the help of Álvaro de Luna against Ferdinand's sons. After a win against John the Emirate of Granada, at the Battle of La Higueruela 1431 a short-term peace through the marriage of John's son Henry of Navarre was with Bianca (also known as Blanche of Aragon ), the daughter of his rival, confirmed. This marriage was never consummated and was later dissolved. It was only in 1445 succeeded de Luna the decisive victory, but the throne of disputes and uprisings of various noble parties did not finish.

Despite his reign of 49 years, John was a weak king, who was under the influence of his favorite Álvaro de Luna. De Luna ended influence than John 's second wife Isabella, daughter of John of Portugal, a conspiracy supported his overthrow, the probably Johann was involved from Aragon. 1453 de Luna was executed. John died a year later, leaving behind a torn, financially ruined country.

Progeny

First marriage to Mary of Aragon (1396-1445), daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon:

  • Henry IV of impotent (* January 5, 1425, † December 14, 1474 )

Second marriage to Isabella of Portugal (1428-1496):

  • Isabella I ( of Castile ) (* April 22, 1451, † November 26, 1504 ), which became known as Isabella the Catholic in the history
  • Alfonso (* November 15, 1453; † July 5, 1468 )
Gil de Siloé Toro, Zamora Henry III of Castile Constance of Castile, Duchess of Lancaster John, Constable of Portugal Lexikon des Mittelalters Integrated Authority File
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