General Notes

Name Suffix:<NSFX> King of

Alfonso IX of León (August 15, 1171 - September 23 or 24, 1230; ruledfrom 1188-1230), first cousin of Alfonso VIII of Castile, and numberednext to him as being a junior member of the family, is said by IbnKhaldun to have been called the Baboso or "Slobberer", because he wassubject to fits of rage during which he foamed at the mouth.

Though he took a part in the work of the reconquest, this king is chieflyremembered by the difficulties into which his successive marriages ledhim with the pope. He was first married to his cousin Teresa of Portugal,who bore him two daughters, and a son who died young.

The marriage was declared null by the pope, to whom Alfonso paid noattention till he was presumably tired of his wife. It cannot have beenhis conscience which constrained him to leave Teresa, for his next stepwas to marry Berenguela of Castile, who was his second cousin. For thisact of contumacy the king and kingdom were placed under interdict.

The pope was, however, compelled to modify his measures by the threatthat if the people could not obtain the services of religion they wouldnot support the clergy, and that heresy would spread. The king was leftunder interdict personally, but to that he showed himself indifferent,and he had the support of his clergy. Berenguela left him after the birthof five children, and the king then returned to Teresa, to whosedaughters he left his kingdom by will.

This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.