Editing Ferdinand III of Castile (section)

== Unification of Castile and León ==

When Ferdinand's father died in 1230, his will delivered the kingdom to his older daughters [[Sancha, heiress of León|Sancha]] and [[Dulce of León|Dulce]], from his first marriage to [[Theresa of Portugal, Queen of León|Teresa of Portugal]].  But Ferdinand contested the will, and claimed the inheritance for himself.  At length, an agreement was reached, negotiated primarily between their mothers, Berengaria and Teresa. The resulting [[treaty of Benavente]] was signed on 11 December 1230, by which Ferdinand received the [[Kingdom of León]], in return for a substantial compensation in cash and lands for his half-sisters, Sancha and Dulce.  Ferdinand thus became the first sovereign of both kingdoms since the death of [[Alfonso VII]] in 1157.{{sfn|Shadis|1999|p=348}}

Early in his reign, Ferdinand had to deal with a rebellion of the [[House of Lara]].