Sancho III, byname SANCHO THE DESIRED, Spanish SANCHO EL DESEADO (b. c. 1134--d. Aug. 31, 1158, Toledo, Castile), king of Castile from 1157 to 1158, the elder son of the Spanish emperor Alfonso VII.
His father's will partitioned the realm between his two sons, Sancho III receiving Castile and Ferdinand II receiving Leon. After a military show of force, Sancho was able to reaffirm by treaty the vassalage of Aragon and Navarre won by his imperial father, but, after reigning but one year and 11 days, he died. [Encyclopaedia Britannica CD '97]