Stephanie Alfonso of Castile | |
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Born | 1139 or 1148 |
Died | 1 July 1180 |
Burial | Basilica of San Isidoro |
Spouse | Fernando Rodríguez de Castro |
Issue | Pedro Fernández de Castro |
House | House of Burgundy |
Father | Alfonso VII of León and Castile |
Mother | Urraca Fernández de Castro |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Stephanie Alfonso of Castile (Spanish: Estefanía Alfonso de Castilla) (1139/1148 – 1 July 1180), also known as Stephanie the Unfortunate (Estefanía la Desdichada), was an illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VII of León and Castile and Urraca Fernández de Castro, widow of Count Rodrigo Martínez. She was married to Fernando Rodríguez de Castro, which earned her the soubriquet, "the Unfortunate".
Stephanie's date of birth must have occurred between 1139, when the relationship between Alfonso and her mother began, and 1148, the year in which Alfonso confers privileges in favor of Urraca and his daughter. Stephanie had many half-siblings, her older illegitimate sister was Urraca, who became Queen consort of Navarre. Her legitimate half-siblings included: Sancho III of Castile, Ferdinand II of León, Constance, Queen of France, Sancha, Queen of Navarre and Sancha, Queen of Aragon
In 1157, Stephanie's father died while returning from an expedition and was succeeded in Castile by his son Sancho III, and in León by Fernando II.
Stephanie married Fernando Rodríguez de Castro, head of the House of Castro, governor of Cuéllar, Dueñas, Valladolid, Toro and Asturias at different times. He had divorced his first wife, Constanza Osorio, daughter of Count Osorio Martinez, the latter having been killed at the Battle of Lobregal.