Ferdinand IV | |
---|---|
Ferdinand IV in a miniature of the Compendio de crónicas de reyes, currently displayed in the Biblioteca Nacional de España.
|
|
King of Castile and León | |
Reign | 25 April 1295 – 7 September 1312 |
Predecessor | Sancho IV |
Successor | Alfonso XI |
Born |
Seville |
6 December 1285
Died | 7 September 1312 Jaén |
(aged 26)
Burial | Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus |
Consort | Constance of Portugal |
Issue |
Eleanor, Queen of Aragon Alfonso XI, King of Castile |
House | House of Ivrea Burgundy |
Father | Sancho IV, King of Castile |
Mother | María de Molina |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Ferdinand IV of Castile (6 December 1285 – 7 September 1312) called the Summoned (el Emplazado), was a King of Castile and León from 1295 until his death.
During his minority, his upbringing and the custody of his person were entrusted to his mother, Queen María de Molina, while his tutorship was entrusted to the Infante Henry of Castile the Senator, son of King Fernando III of Castile. At that time, and also for the rest of his reign, his mother tried to placate the nobility, confronted her son's enemies, and repeatedly prevented Ferdinand IV from being dethroned.
He had to face the insubordination of the nobility, leaded at numerous times by his uncle, the Infante John of Castile, Lord of Valencia de Campos and by Juan Núñez II de Lara, who were supported in some occasions by Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena and grandson of the King Ferdinand III.
Like his predecessors on the throne, Ferdinand IV continued the Reconquista and, although he failed to conquer Algeciras in 1309, he captured the city of Gibraltar that same year, and in 1312 the city of Alcaudete was also conquered. During the Cortes of Valladolid of 1312, he promoted the reform of the administration of justice, and that of all areas of administration, while attempting to strengthen the royal authority to the detriment of the nobility. He died in Jaén on 7 September 1312 aged 26, and his mortal remains are now in the Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus.
Ferdinand was born in the city of Seville on 6 December 1285 as the second child and eldest son of King Sancho IV of Castile and his wife María de Molina. He was baptized at Seville Cathedral by Archbishop Raimundo de Losana and was immediately proclaimed heir to the Crown and received the homage of the nobles of the Kingdom.