Mary of Molina. Queen Mary of Castile

Mary Alphonsine of Molina (1264 - 1321), known as Mary of Molina, Lady of Molina, daughter of Prince Alfonso of Molina and his wife Alphonsine Mayor de Meneses. She was queen consort of Castile, her marriage to Sancho IV of Castile.

She married in 1282 at the Cathedral of Toledo with her ​​nephew, Sancho, later reign inCastile with the name of Sancho IV. The early marriage to the Prince were conflicting, because the marriage did not have the necessary papal dispensation because of two reasons: because on one hand there were blood ties and also there were someprevious engagement contracted by the Infante Sancho, though were neverconsummated, with Wilhelmina of Montcada. At first, the marriage was considered nulland all children born within it illegitimate. Therefore, it is said to have committedIncestas nuptias, Excessus Enormitas and Public Shame and were excommunicated by the Pope. In 1283 was born the eldest of the couple in the Bull, the Princess Isabella ofCastile.

The marriage was not liked by Alphonsus X, who was estranged from his son since the death, in 1275, his son and heir, Prince Ferdinand de la Cerda. In April 1284 the Infante Sancho and his wife, Mary, were in the city of Avila the news that he had died in the city of Seville, King Alphonsus X. The next day, Sancho IV of Castile and Mary finished the funeral in memory of Alphonsus X, changed the clothes ofmourning cloth of gold shining real and Sancho IV of Castile was proclaimed Sovereign,by recognizing as his beloved wife Queen Mary, and his daughter, the Princess Isabella of Castile, as heir to the throne. Later they went to the city of Toledo, where he wouldplace his coronation in the Cathedral. In early May entered the city of Toledo and were crowned kings of the kingdoms of Castile, Toledo, Lyon, Galicia, Seville, Cordoba, Murcia, Jaen and the Algarve.

Taking advantage of the accession of France Philip IV the Fair, Sancho IV sent to the French court to Gomez Garcia, his favorite, to request the new French king to intercedefor him with the new Pope, to get the waiver legitimating his marriage to Queen Mary de Molina. However, the purpose of Philip IV was the king repudiated Maria of Molina, andto marry his sister. Upon learning of this, Sancho IV replaced his private Lope Diaz de Haro III, Lord of Biscay. The relations between the queen and the new king's privatewere cordial from the beginning, and the queen was present in the town of Alfaro whenSancho IV killed the private in 1288. At the same time, the Queen saved her life the infant Juan de Castilla "the Fee", brother of Sancho IV, who had tried to protect LopeDiaz de Haro III.

The infant John was arrested and imprisoned in the castle of Burgos. That same year she gave birth to Prince Henry of Castile, who died in infancy. The following year he was born infant Pedro of Castile, her fifth child. In 1291, by signing the treaty of Monteagudo, King of Aragon, James II the Just, promised to marry the Infanta Isabella, daughter of the queen, when he had the age for this. The following year, in 1292, Sancho IV of Tariffconquered after a long siege, and the queen gave birth to the infant Philip of Castile. In 1293 Mary of Molina inherited due to the death of his sister, Bianca Alphonsus Molina,the lordship of Molina, the possession of which was confirmed by Sancho IV of Castile, who gave up her inheritance Lordship swear the duration of his life. That same year wasthe seventh daughter, the Infanta Beatriz of Castile and Molina.

In 1295 died the King Sancho IV of Castile, leaving as heir his son, the PrinceFerdinand. King died, the widowed queen retired to the original Alcazar de Toledo to save a nine-day mourning. Mary was responsible for tutoring during the minority of her son. Due to the illegitimacy of her son, Ferdinand, caused by the unlawful marriage of his parents, the Queen had to overcome many difficulties to keep her son on the throne.

In the Cortes of Valladolid of 1295 the Prince Enrique of Castile "Senator" was namedguardian of the king. But the queen, by supporting cities to vote on cuts, that custody of the King (her son) will be given to her. In the summer of 1295 the Queen Mary and herson, King Henry, met in Ciudad Rodrigo with King Dionysius I of Portugal, whom the queen gave several places located near the Portuguese border. At this meeting it was agreed that King Ferdinand IV of Castile would marry the Infanta Constance of Portugal, daughter of King Dionysius, and the Infanta Beatriz of Castile (daughter of Queen Mary)marry the Prince Alphonsus, heir to the throne Portugues. At the same time, King James II of Aragon returned to the Infanta Isabella of Castile,without being married to her, and declared war on the Kingdom of Castile and Lyon.

Ethnicity:

- Isabella of Castile and Molina (1283 - 1328) Duchess of Brittany.

- Ferdinand IV "the Set" of Castile and Molina (1285 - 1312), Crown Prince of Castileand Lyon, later king of Castile and Lyon.

- Alphonsus of Castile and Molina (1286 - 1291) Prince of Castile.

- Henry of Castile and Molina (1288 - 1299) Prince of Castile.

- Peter of Castile and Molina (1290 - 1319) Lord of the Cameros and Tutor of KingAlphonsus XI "Alive" of Castile.

- Philip of Castile and Molina (1292 - 1327) Lord of Cabrera and Ribera. Beadle Mayorof Santiago and Guardian of his nephew King Alphonsus XI Alive.

- Beatrice of Castile and Molina (1293 - 1359) Queen consort of Portugal.

In 1321 Queen became very ill and ordered his lodging in the Convent of San Franciscodisappeared from Valladolid, as the Royal Palace in Valladolid was at work. Queen's grandson, Alphonsus, had 10 years and the queen called the Knights of the Council ofValladolid and entrusted to veil themselves for the safety of the young king and take care.

The Queen also were entrusted with the protection and care of Eleanor of Castile, sister of Alphonsus XI and future wife of Benigno Alphonsus IV, king of Aragon, who was murdered by order of Peter I the Cruel in 1359.

On June 29, 1321, Pedro Sanchez, Clerk of Valladolid, wrote that Queen's will dictated,in which she ordered to be buried in the monastery of Las Huelgas in Valladolid, and detailed many pious endowments. Ordered payment of its debts and distributednumerous rents, legacies and property. Among the witnesses present who signed thewill were Nuño Pérez de Monroy, Butler Sanchez de Velasco, clerks, residents ofValladolid and several servants of the queen. The gentlemen of the town took over theking and the funeral was held, chaired by Cardinal Legate of Santa Sabina.

Died on July 1, two days after having offered his will. The tomb of Queen Maria deMolina is in the Real Monasterio de las Huelgas in Valladolid.