Alfonso, Prince of Asturias (1453-1468)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other Princes of Asturias named Alfonso, see Alfonso, Prince of Asturias (disambiguation)

Infante don Alfonso de Trastamara y Aviz, Prince of Asturias (1453 – 1468) was the figurehead of rebelling magnates against his brother Henry IV of Castile.

Alfonso was born as the only surviving son of Isabel de Portugal, queen, and her husband John II of Castile, whose second marriage that was. Alfonso's full sister was the future Queen Isabella I of Castile.

Castilian and Leonese royalty
House of Trastámara

Henry II and I of Leon Children include    John I    Eleanor, Queen of Navarre John I Children include    Henry III of Castile and II of Leon)    Ferdinand I of Aragon, Valencia and Sicily Henry III and II of Leon Children include    John II    Maria, Queen of Aragon, Valencia, Sicily and Naples John II Children include    Henry IV of Castile and III of Leon    Isabella I    Alfonso, Prince of Asturias Henry IV and III of Leon Children    Joan, Queen of Portugal Isabella I with Ferdinand V Children    Isabella, Queen of Portugal    Juan, Prince of Asturias    Joanna I    Maria, Queen of Portugal    Catherine, Queen of England Grandchildren include    Miguel da Paz, Prince of Portugal and Spain Joanna with Philip I Children    Eleanor, Queen of Portugal and France    Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor    Isabella, Queen of Denmark and Norway    Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor    Mary, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia    Catherine, Queen of Portugal

In early 1460s, lords of the realm were totally dissatisfied with the ineffectual king Henry IV, and further believed that the daughter (Joanna, Princess of Asturias, aka Juana la Beltraneja) whom Henry's wife had given birth to, was not sired by Henry. The cortes forced in 1464 Henry to repudiate Joanna's paternity and to recognize Alfonso as the next king, whereby he became Prince of Asturias in place of Joanna.

Then Alfonso was used as figurehead in the further rebellions of several magnates.

However, quite young, Alfonso died of a sickness, probably plague, although poison and slit throat have been suggested. His sister Isabella was requested to take her brother's place as figurehead of the rebels but she declined - she conciliated with Henry and was recognized as the next monarch, which she became when Henry himself died in 1474.

Alfonso, Prince of Asturias (1453-1468) House of Trastámara Born: 1453 Died: 1468
Preceded by Juana "la Beltraneja" who was deposed	Prince of Asturias 1464-1468	Succeeded by Infanta Isabella his sister