Ferdinand IV (King of Castile)

Fernando, nicknamed the Summoned, became king at the age of only nine. By this time, Castile for many years was experiencing a severe internal crisis and was torn apart by civil strife. After the death of Sancho IV, feuds took such proportions that it seemed the country would inevitably fall apart. Not everyone recognized Fernando's mother Maria de Molina as Sancho’s legal wife (and, accordingly, did not recognize Fernando’s legal son and heir). Therefore, brother Sancho don Juan demanded a throne for himself. King's cousin don Enrique returned from exile and demanded regency. On the other hand, claims to the throne continued to be put forward by the cousin of Fernando Alfonso de la Cerda, who was supported by the kings of France and Aragon, as well as the powerful names of Lara and Aro.

However, thanks to the intelligence and firmness of the Queen Mother, the collapse of the state was avoided. Maria de Molina bowed Don Enrique to her side, allowing him to rule the state. Peace was concluded with the king of Portugal at the cost of the loss of border areas. At the same time, young Ferdinand was engaged to the daughter of Dinis , and the older sister Ferdinand was married to the Portuguese infant . In 1301, an honorable peace was made with Aragon. It was not possible to reconcile with Alphonse de la Serda, but he was too lethargic and passive to succeed in the war. Finally, in 1300, Mary persuaded pope to recognize her marriage to Sancho as legal. Thus, the formal prerequisites for not recognizing Ferdinand as a king disappeared, and don Juan was forced to lay down his arms.

However, for all these successes, Ferdinand repaid his mother with black ingratitude. A man of vengeance, cruel and ungrateful, with the instigation of don Juan, he demanded from her a report on the use of the treasury, and then completely removed him from public affairs. Then the trouble flared up again. Alfons de la Cerda resumed the war, and Jaime II of Aragon laid claim to Murcia, conquered by his father , but surrendered to Castile. Ferdinand appealed for help to the Portuguese Dinis to become a mediator in the dispute between the warring parties. In 1305, an arbitration court was held in Campiglio, at which Dinis, don Juan and Bishop of Zaragoza decided to leave the western part of the former emirate of Murcia with the capital beyond Castile, and give the eastern part to Aragon. Alfons de la Cerda had to give up claims to the throne in exchange for several new possessions. Jaime Aragonsky agreed with the court decision, but Alphonse did not, and was forced to leave for France. However, his son subsequently accepted the terms of the contract and became a Castilian nobleman.

But even after that, the unrest in the country did not stop. Ferdinand and don Juan constantly quarreled among themselves, because of which not a single campaign against the Moors was brought to an end. In 1309, Castilians and Aragonese laid siege to three Muslim cities, Almeria, Gibraltar and Algeciras, but don Juan quarreled with the heads of the families of Lara and Garo. The hostilities had to be stopped, limited to occupying two small fortresses. Soon, Juan raised a new rebellion. It came to the point that the king decided to kill his uncle. But the conspiracy was revealed, which aroused universal hatred of the king. The pope instructed four Spanish bishops to investigate the matter, but Ferdinand did not live to see the end of the process. Having set off on another campaign against the Moors, the king fell ill and died en route.

In 1302, Ferdinand IV married Constance , daughter of Dinis I , King of Portugal . Three children were born from this marriage:

• Eleanor ( 1307 - 1359 ), wife of Alfonso IV , King of Aragon .
• Constance ( 1307 - 1310 )
• Alfonso XI (August 13, 1311 - March 26 or March 27, 1350 ), successor to Ferdinand IV on the royal throne of Castile and Leon.

• Anonymous authors . Spanish Medieval Chronicles: The Chronicle of Cardeny I. The Chronicle of Cardeny II. Annals of Toledo I. Annals of Toledo II. Annals of Toledo III. (unspecified) . www.kuprienko.info (A. Skromnitsky) (August 24, 2011). Date of treatment November 17, 2012. Archived December 4, 2012.