Fernando II (1157-1188)

In Alfonso VII’s division of the kingdom, Fernando received the Leonese crown (Galicia, Asturias and León). His brother Sancho III of Castille did not take long to attack him, even though both had formed a military alliance in Sahagún on May 23rd of 1158.

Three months after that Sancho passed away, leaving the Castilian throne to his three year old son, Alfonso VIII. Fernando acted as his nephew’s tutor, and a little later was named Alfonso II de Aragón’s tutor, with which he became the main king of Christian Spain, and began calling himself “Rex Hispaniarum”. Portugal started giving him problems that were solved in big part after he married Urraca, a Portuguese princess. She would give birth to Alfonso, his successor.

Fernando II set off to conquer Extremadura, taking Alcántara in 1166. But there he had to face Afonso I, his Portuguese father in law, since Afonso had obtained Cáceres and Badajoz with the help of his compatriot Gerald “The Fearless” (“The Portuguese Cid”). Fernando seized Badajoz from the Portuguese, and took Afonso prisoner, although he let him go shortly after.

This Leonese king promoted the growth of military orders like the one in Alcántara and the one in Santiago. Helped by these orders, he conquered the majority of Extremadura, and in 1174 an Almohad counterattack caused them to retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo. He dedicated the rest of his life to attempting to recover Cáceres, but was unable to do so. He did win against the Almohads in other places, such as in Santarem (Portugal).

Fernando II passed away on January 22nd, 1188, and his son Alfonso inherited the throne, although before that he had to impose himself against his mother in law. Fernando, according to his wishes, was buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.