Editing Henry III of Castile

{{Short description|King of Castile and León from 1390 to 1406}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Henry III
| succession   = [[King of Castile]] and [[King of León|León]]
| reign        = 9 October 1390 – 25 December 1406
| image        = Henry III Rex.jpg
| caption      = Depiction in [[Alfonso de Cartagena]]'s ''Liber Genealogiae Regum Hispaniae''
| predecessor  = [[John I of Castile|John I]]
| successor    = [[John II of Castile|John II]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Catherine of Lancaster]]|1388}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|
*[[Maria of Castile|Maria, Queen of Aragon]]
*[[Infanta Catherine, Duchess of Villena]]
*[[John II, King of Castile]]}}
| issue-link   = #Marriage and issue
| issue-pipe   = 
| house        = [[House of Trastámara|Trastámara]]
| father       = [[John I of Castile]]
| mother       = [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile|Eleanor of Aragon]]
| birth_date   = 4 October 1379
| birth_place  = [[Burgos]]
| death_date   = {{death date and age|1406|12|25|1379|10|4|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]]
| burial_date  =
| burial_place = [[Cathedral of Toledo]]
}}

'''Henry III of Castile''' (4 October 1379 – 25 December 1406), called '''the Suffering''' due to his ill health ({{Langx|es|link=no|Enrique el Doliente}}, {{Langx|gl|Henrique o Doente}}), was the son of [[John I of Castile|John I]] and [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile|Eleanor of Aragon]].{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=902}} He succeeded his father as [[List of Castilian monarchs|King of Castile]] in 1390.

== Birth and education ==
Henry was born in [[Burgos]], the capital of Castile, the first-born child of the recently crowned king [[John I of Castile]] and his wife [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile|Eleanor of Aragon]].{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=902}} His younger brother [[Ferdinand I of Aragon|Ferdinand]] grew up to become king of Aragon.

His upbringing was entrusted to Inés Lasso de la Vega, the wife of John Niño. As a child he was educated by Diego de Anaya Maldonado, Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tui-Vigo|Tui-Vigo]], who later became Archbishop of Seville. His tutor was Juan Hurtado de Mendoza el Limpio and his confessor was the Dominican Alonso de Cusanza, who later became Bishop of Salamanca and León.

== Prince of Asturias ==
At the time of his wedding, he received the title [[Prince of Asturias]] with the approval of the court of Briviesca. This title designated him as the [[heir apparent]]. He was the first person to hold this title, with earlier heirs to the throne being known as ''infantes mayores''.

In 1390, his father considered abdicating in his favour to gain the recognition of the Portuguese, but he was dissuaded from this plan by his council. They were against it because of the damage caused to the kingdom by earlier similar decisions. However, in October of the same year, King John died in [[Alcalá de Henares]] by falling off his horse, and Henry was proclaimed king.

He assumed power on 2 August 1393, at the age of 13, during a tumultuous period of changes in the regency.

== 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>

== Tomb ==
[[File:Sepulcro de Enrique III, rey de Castilla y León. Capilla de los Reyes Nuevos de la Catedral de Toledo.jpg|thumb|The tomb of Henry III of Castile. Chapel of the New Monarchs of Toledo.]]
[[File:Sepulcro de Catalina de Lancáster.JPG|thumb|right|Catherine's tomb]]

After his death, Henry's body was taken to the city of Toledo, where he was interred in a tomb in the Chapel of the New Monarchs of the [[Cathedral of Toledo]], and his remains are still there today.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Del Arco y Garay
| first = Ricardo
| editor = Instituto Jerónimo Zurita. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.
| title = Sepulcros de la Casa Real de Castilla|language=es |trans-title=Tombs of the Castilian royal family
| url = 	
| edition = 1st
| year = 1954
| publisher= Madrid
| pages = 
| chapter = 
}}</ref> The tomb is located above the choir stalls on the Gospel side and is in the [[Plateresque]] style.  The box part is decorated with the shields of Castile and León, and the lower interior has three panels decorated with trophies.  Above the three panels two cherubs hold a plaque on which is engraved the Monarch's epitaph in medieval Spanish:<ref>{{cite book
| last = Elorza
| first = Juan C.
| author2=Lourdes Vaquero |author3=Belén Castillo |author4=Marta Negro
| editor = Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Bienestar Social
| title = El Panteón Real de las Huelgas de Burgos. Los enterramientos de los reyes de León y de Castilla
| url = 	
| edition = 2nd
| year = 1990
| isbn = 84-241-9999-5
| pages = 
| chapter = 
| publisher = Junta de Castilla y León
}}</ref>
{{quote|{{verse translation|language=osp|italicsoff=y|{{sc2|AQUI IACE EL MUI TEMIDO Y JUSTICIERO REI DON ENRIQUE DE DULCE MEMORIA QUE DIOS DE SANTO PARAISO HIJO DEL CATHOLICO REI DON JUAN NIETO DEL NOBLE CAVALLERO DON ENRIQUE EN 16 AÑOS QUE REINO FUE CASTILLA TEMIDA Y HONRRADA NACIO EN BURGOS DIA DE SAN FRANCISCO Y MURIO DIA DE NABIDAD EN TOLEDO IENDO A LA GUERRA DE LOS MOROS CON LOS NOBLES DEL REINO FINO AÑO DEL SEÑOR DE 1407.}}
|Here lies the much feared and righteous king Henry, of sweet memory, may God [give him] the Holy Paradise, [he was] son of the Catholic King John I and grandson of the noble knight Henry[.] In the 16 years he reigned, Castile was feared and honored[. He] was born in Burgos on the day of St Francis and died on Christmas Day in Toledo, going to war against the Moors with the kingdom's nobles, finishing AD 1407.}}
}}

There is a recumbent statue of Henry III over the tomb, made in polychrome alabaster. Henry appears clothed in a Franciscan habit, although his hands are holding his sword in his girdle, which runs parallel to the Cordón de San Francisco. The king's head in his crown rests on three rich cushions, and his feet are bare. Four kneeling angels are at the corners of the statue.

== Marriage and issue ==
Shortly after his birth, he was promised to be married to [[Beatrice of Portugal]], the heir to the Portuguese throne. This was part of a peace treaty between Castile and Portugal, who had signed a truce after the [[Ferdinand Wars]]. But this marriage did not happen. Instead, Beatrice married his father, who would instigate a [[1383–1385 Crisis|war of succession]] with [[John I of Portugal|John of Aviz]].

On 17 September 1388, as part of the [[Treaty of Bayonne]], Henry married [[Catherine of Lancaster]] (1372–1418), the daughter of [[John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster]], and [[Constance of Castile (1354–1394)|Constance of Castile]],{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=902}} who was the elder daughter of [[Peter of Castile|King Peter]]. This ended a dynastic conflict and solidified the House of Trastámara.  Their marriage ceremony took place in [[Palencia Cathedral]] and they had:

* [[Maria of Castile, Queen of Aragon|Maria]] (1401–1458), wife of [[Alfonso V of Aragon]] and Queen of Aragon{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=902}}
* [[Catherine, Duchess of Villena|Catherine]] (1403–1439), wife of [[Infante Henry, Duke of Villena]]
* [[John II of Castile|John II]] (1405–1454), King of Castile{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=902}}

== Ancestry ==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center |ref=<ref name="DeSousa2">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/historiagenealog02sous#page/496/mode/2up |title=Historia genealogica da casa real portugueza |trans-title=Genealogical History of the Royal House of Portugal |volume=2 |language=pt |last=de Sousa |first=Antonio Caetano |publisher=Lisboa Occidental |year=1735 |page=497}}</ref>
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
|1= 1. '''Henry III of Castile'''
|2= 2. [[John I of Castile]]
|3= 3. [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Castile|Eleanor of Aragon]]
|4= 4. [[Henry II of Castile]]
|5= 5. [[Juana Manuel]]
|6= 6. [[Peter IV of Aragon]]
|7= 7. [[Eleanor of Sicily]]
|8= 8. [[Alfonso XI of Castile]]
|9= 9. [[Eleanor of Guzman]]
|10= 10. [[Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena]]
|11= 11. [[Blanca de La Cerda y Lara]]
|12= 12. [[Alfonso IV of Aragon]]
|13= 13. [[Teresa d'Entença]]
|14= 14. [[Peter II of Sicily]]
|15= 15. [[Elizabeth of Carinthia, Queen of Sicily|Elisabeth of Carinthia]]
}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* [[Gil González Dávila (historian)|González Dávila, Gil]]: ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=jTGFSnCgqs4C {{lang|es|Historia de la vida y hechos del rey don Henrique tercero de Castilla}} (''The life and times of King Henry III of Castile'')]'' (1638)
* [[Pero López de Ayala|López de Ayala, Pedro]]: ''[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_BswWAAAAQAAJ Crónicas de los Reyes de Castilla Don Pedro, Don Enrique II, Don Juan I, Don Enrique III]''. 2 v. Editorial Órbigo, S.L. {{ISBN|84-96966-50-X}}
*{{cite book |first=C.W. |last=Previte-Orton |title=The Shorter Cambridge Medieval History |volume=2 |publisher=Cambridge at the University Press |year=1912 }}
* Suárez Bilbao, Fernando: ''Enrique III''. Diputación Provincial de Palencia 1994 {{ISBN|84-8173-013-0}}
* Veas Arteseros, Francisco de Asís: ''Itinerario de Enrique III''. [[Editum (publisher)|Editum: Ediciones de la Universidad de Murcia]] 2003 {{ISBN|84-8371-400-0}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Trastámara]]|4 October|1379|25 December|1406}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John I of Castile|John I]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of Castile]] and [[List of Leonese monarchs|León]]|years=1390–1406}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John II of Castile|John II]]}}
{{s-roy|es}}
{{s-new}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Prince of Asturias]]|years=1388–1390}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Maria of Castile|Maria]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Princes of Asturias}}
{{Castilian monarchs}}
{{Leonese monarchs}}
{{Galician monarchs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henry 03 Of Castile}}
[[Category:Castilian infantes]]
[[Category:House of Trastámara]]
[[Category:Medieval child monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Burgos]]
[[Category:Princes of Asturias]]
[[Category:1379 births]]
[[Category:1406 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Crown of Castile]]
[[Category:Burials in the Province of Toledo]]
[[Category:14th-century Castilian monarchs]]
[[Category:15th-century Castilian monarchs]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]