Spanish Monarch. Born the eldest son of Juan I, King of Castile and León, and Eleanor of Aragon in the capital of Castile, Burgos. As an infant, he was betrothed to the Portuguese heir, Beatrice, as a part of a peace treaty between Castile and Portugal. Beatrice, however, eventually married his father. In 1390, his father died after a fall from his horse, and Enrique was proclaimed king. He succeeded to the title of King Enrique III de Castilla y León that year. He married Katherine of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and Costanza of Castile, daughter of Pedro I, about 1393 (some records place the marriage five years previously). The couple would have three children including the future Juan II of Castile. During his reign, he curtailed persecution of the Spanish Jews, and passed various bills in support of this edict. He sent a naval fleet to destroy a pirate base in North Africa, and in 1402, he began the colonization of the Canary Islands, while finalizing a peace treaty with Portugal that same year. Known by the nick-name of Enrique the Sickly, he succumbed to persistent ill health at the age of 27, dying on Christmas day, leaving his brother, Ferdinand of Aragon, regent for his year old son.
Spanish Monarch. Born the eldest son of Juan I, King of Castile and León, and Eleanor of Aragon in the capital of Castile, Burgos. As an infant, he was betrothed to the Portuguese heir, Beatrice, as a part of a peace treaty between Castile and Portugal. Beatrice, however, eventually married his father. In 1390, his father died after a fall from his horse, and Enrique was proclaimed king. He succeeded to the title of King Enrique III de Castilla y León that year. He married Katherine of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and Costanza of Castile, daughter of Pedro I, about 1393 (some records place the marriage five years previously). The couple would have three children including the future Juan II of Castile. During his reign, he curtailed persecution of the Spanish Jews, and passed various bills in support of this edict. He sent a naval fleet to destroy a pirate base in North Africa, and in 1402, he began the colonization of the Canary Islands, while finalizing a peace treaty with Portugal that same year. Known by the nick-name of Enrique the Sickly, he succumbed to persistent ill health at the age of 27, dying on Christmas day, leaving his brother, Ferdinand of Aragon, regent for his year old son.
Bio by: Iola
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