Fernando I, El Magno (the Great), Count of Castile, King of Leon, and self-proclaimed Emperor of Spain
Fernando was one of the younger sons born to Sancho III of Navarre and Muniadona of Castile. His parents were married in 1011 and he was listed in 1014, leaving his birth year In question.
Fernando married Sancha of Leon in 1022. She had been the intended bride of Garcia of Castile who was assassinated as he entered the church to marry. The marriage brought lands of Castile as her dowry.
After his father’s death in 1035 Fernando ruled in Castile although he was not acknowledged as king. He took possession of Leon, by right of his wife, after his victory at the Battle of Tamaron in September of 1037. He defeated his elder brother, Garcia, at the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054, and controlled Navarre, and was at war with Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz and Seville as well as Portugal and his last military campaign against Valencia after which he became ill and returned home where he died in Leon on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, 24 June 1065.
Fernando divided his kingdom between his three sons; Sancho received Castile, Alfonso kept Leon while Garcia received a new area named Galicia, and his daughters, Elvira received Toro while Urraca controlled Zamora. Sancho and Alfonso turned against Garcia, Sancho was killed and all their territories fell to Alfonso.
Bio by Anne Stevens
Fernando was one of the younger sons born to Sancho III of Navarre and Muniadona of Castile. His parents were married in 1011 and he was listed in 1014, leaving his birth year In question.
Fernando married Sancha of Leon in 1022. She had been the intended bride of Garcia of Castile who was assassinated as he entered the church to marry. The marriage brought lands of Castile as her dowry.
After his father’s death in 1035 Fernando ruled in Castile although he was not acknowledged as king. He took possession of Leon, by right of his wife, after his victory at the Battle of Tamaron in September of 1037. He defeated his elder brother, Garcia, at the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054, and controlled Navarre, and was at war with Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz and Seville as well as Portugal and his last military campaign against Valencia after which he became ill and returned home where he died in Leon on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, 24 June 1065.
Fernando divided his kingdom between his three sons; Sancho received Castile, Alfonso kept Leon while Garcia received a new area named Galicia, and his daughters, Elvira received Toro while Urraca controlled Zamora. Sancho and Alfonso turned against Garcia, Sancho was killed and all their territories fell to Alfonso.
Bio by Anne Stevens
Fernando I, El Magno (the Great), Count of Castile, King of Leon, and self-proclaimed Emperor of Spain
Fernando was one of the younger sons born to Sancho III of Navarre and Muniadona of Castile. His parents were married in 1011 and he was listed in 1014, leaving his birth year In question.
Fernando married Sancha of Leon in 1022. She had been the intended bride of Garcia of Castile who was assassinated as he entered the church to marry. The marriage brought lands of Castile as her dowry.
After his father’s death in 1035 Fernando ruled in Castile although he was not acknowledged as king. He took possession of Leon, by right of his wife, after his victory at the Battle of Tamaron in September of 1037. He defeated his elder brother, Garcia, at the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054, and controlled Navarre, and was at war with Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz and Seville as well as Portugal and his last military campaign against Valencia after which he became ill and returned home where he died in Leon on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, 24 June 1065.
Fernando divided his kingdom between his three sons; Sancho received Castile, Alfonso kept Leon while Garcia received a new area named Galicia, and his daughters, Elvira received Toro while Urraca controlled Zamora. Sancho and Alfonso turned against Garcia, Sancho was killed and all their territories fell to Alfonso.
Bio by Anne Stevens
Fernando was one of the younger sons born to Sancho III of Navarre and Muniadona of Castile. His parents were married in 1011 and he was listed in 1014, leaving his birth year In question.
Fernando married Sancha of Leon in 1022. She had been the intended bride of Garcia of Castile who was assassinated as he entered the church to marry. The marriage brought lands of Castile as her dowry.
After his father’s death in 1035 Fernando ruled in Castile although he was not acknowledged as king. He took possession of Leon, by right of his wife, after his victory at the Battle of Tamaron in September of 1037. He defeated his elder brother, Garcia, at the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054, and controlled Navarre, and was at war with Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz and Seville as well as Portugal and his last military campaign against Valencia after which he became ill and returned home where he died in Leon on the feast of Saint John the Baptist, 24 June 1065.
Fernando divided his kingdom between his three sons; Sancho received Castile, Alfonso kept Leon while Garcia received a new area named Galicia, and his daughters, Elvira received Toro while Urraca controlled Zamora. Sancho and Alfonso turned against Garcia, Sancho was killed and all their territories fell to Alfonso.
Bio by Anne Stevens
