Editing Henry III of Castile (section)

== Reign ==
Despite his nickname, King Henry III engaged in a vigorous foreign policy and manoeuvres during the first few years of the 15th century. He was able to pacify the nobility and restore royal power.

Henry III was supported by the aristocracy and displaced their most powerful relatives (such as Alfonso Enríquez and his aunt, [[Eleanor of Castile, Queen of Navarre]]). He repealed privileges granted by his predecessors at the Court of Castile, such as the [[alcabala]] (a heavy sales tax) and the right to attend the council.  He increased the number of city magistrates<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitre Fernández|first=Emilio|title=Extensión del régimen de corregidores en el reinado de Enrique III de Castilla|language=es |trans-title=The extension of the magistrates during the reign of Henry III of Castile |publisher = Valladolid University|editor=Secretariado de Publicaciones e Intercambio Editorial|year=1969|isbn=84-600-0218-7}}
</ref> and cleaned up the kingdom's economy. He reduced persecution of the [[History of the Jews in Spain#1300–1391|Jews]] and passed various bills against the violence, which had become particularly bad [[Massacre of 1391|by 1391]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitre Fernández|first=Emilio|title=Los judíos de Castilla en tiempo de Enrique III : el pogrom de 1391|language=es |trans-title=The Castilian Jews at the time of Henry III: the 1391 pogrom |publisher=Valladolid University| editor=Secretariado de Publicaciones e Intercambio Editorial|year=1994|isbn=84-7762-449-6}}</ref><ref>A historical record of great importance is found in [[Solomon ibn Verga]]'s book, [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/39487 ''Shevat Yehudah''], Lvov 1846 (p. 76 in PDF), where the author mentions in the name of Rabbi Shem Tov, the son of Shem Tov Sukkam, that in the year 5150 ''[[anno mundi]]'' (a year corresponding with 1390 of our Common Era), during the reign of King Henry III (Don Enrico), while he was still a youth, many of the local Spaniards had risen-up to force the nation of Israel in Spain to abandon their fathers' religion and to embrace Christianity, and that the people oppressed the Jews and beat them with severe beatings. Subsequently, many Jews in Spain abandoned their religion, especially (using his own words) "the great Jewish congregation at Seville, most of whom choosing to become Christians" instead of enduring their afflictions. Likewise, the Jewish communities in Córdoba and in Usún (a place in Navarra) gave-in to pressure and many converted, as did all of the region of Andalucía, besides many other great cities, such as Ocaña (in Andalucía), Escalona (in Castille) and Torrijas (in Aragon), among other places expressly mentioned by name. He adds that their sufferings were so great that it is not fitting to make mention of them because of their bringing utter "terror to the hearts" of those who should hear them.</ref>

During King Henry's reign, the Castilian fleet won several victories against the English; Henry III sent a naval fleet in 1399 that [[Sack of Tétouan (1399)|destroyed Tétouan]] in [[North Africa]], a [[pirate]] base. In 1402, he began the colonisation of the [[Canary Islands]], sending French explorer [[Jean de Béthencourt]] to do so. In 1396, he deflected a Portuguese invasion with an attack on [[Badajoz]], finally signing a peace treaty with his brother-in-law, King [[John I of Portugal]], on 15 August 1402.

Henry III also sent [[Payo Gómez de Sotomayor]] and [[Hernán Sánchez de Palazuelos]], and later on 21 May 1403, [[Ruy González de Clavijo]], as [[Timurid relations with Europe|ambassadors to Timur]] to discuss the possibility of an alliance between the [[Timurid Empire]] and Castile against the [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Montojo Jiménez|first=Carlos|title=La diplomacia castellana bajo Enrique III : estudio especial de la embajada de Ruy González de Clavijo a la corte de Tamerlán|language=es |trans-title=Castilian diplomacy under Henry III: a special study of Ruy González de Clavijo's embassy to the court of Timur |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Centro de Publicaciones|year=2004|isbn=84-95265-38-9}}</ref> The latter recounted his travels in a book, [[Embajada a Tamorlán]].

Henry III supported the papal pretension of [[Antipope Benedict XIII]]. He restarted the conflict against the kingdom of [[Emirate of Granada|Granada]], winning a victory at the [[Battle of Collejares]], near [[Úbeda]], which freed the town in 1406. However his untimely death later in that same year prevented him from completing this campaign. In 1406, King Henry built a pavilion (hunting lodge) on Mount El Pardo because of abundant game there. The lodge would later be transformed into the [[Royal Palace of El Pardo]] by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]], who would rule as King of Spain.

Due to Henry III's poor health, he delegated part of his power to his brother [[Ferdinand I of Aragon|King Ferdinand I of Aragon]] in the later part of his reign, who became regent while his son [[John II of Castile]] was too young to rule.

King Henry III died in the city of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] on 25 December 1406, while preparing a campaign against the [[Emirate of Granada]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Mitre Fernández|first=Emilio|title=Una muerte para un rey : Enrique III de Castilla (Navidad de 1406)|language=es |trans-title=A King's death: Henry III of Castile (Christmas 1406) |edition=Ámbito Ediciones, S.A.|year=2001|publisher=Secretariado de Publicaciones e Intercambio Editorial, Universidad de Valladolid |isbn=84-8183-091-7}}</ref>