Castro, Inés de (1320?-55), Spanish noblewoman, descended from the Castilian
line, whose unhappy fate has been the subject of tragedies and poems. After
1340, Inés lived with her cousin Constantia (died 1345), who was later the
wife of Dom Pedro, son of Alfonso IV, king of Portugal. After the death of
Constantia, Dom Pedro secretly married Inés. Alfonso feared that this union
might affect the claim to the throne of his grandson, Constantia's son, and he
therefore had Inés executed. Dom Pedro declared civil war against Alfonso, but
they were soon reconciled. According to legend, when Pedro became king (as
Pedro I) he established the legality of his marriage with Inés and had her
body exhumed and placed on the throne.