Post by Sancho IV the Brave on Apr 22, 2008 10:25:55 GMT
As the kings of Castile endeavoured to strengthen monarchical power in the late medieval centuries, they encountered a stiff challenge from the nobility, who tried to use the institutions of government for their own interests. The struggle for power commenced during the reign of Alfonso X the Learned (1252), who is perhaps best known for the literary and scientific achievements under his direction by scholars whom he summoned to his court. His initial aim was to gain control of the Moroccan ports giving access to the Iberian Peninsula, but that provoked a revolt in 1264 by the Mudéjares of Andalusia and Murcia, abetted by the king of Granada. Elected Holy Roman emperor in 1257, Alfonso, for the next 17 years, engaged in a vain effort to counter a rival claimant and to secure papal acceptance. His expenditure of great sums of money on this enterprise and his innovations in taxation and legislation eventually brought about a grave challenge to his rule.
The pope in 1274 refused to recognize Alfonso's imperial claims, and the king's eldest son and heir, Fernando de la Cerda, died in 1275 while hastening to repel a Moroccan invasion. A dispute over the succession between the adherents of Fernando de la Cerda's son, Alfonso, and the king's second son, Sancho, ensued. Although the king recognized Sancho, their relationship deteriorated, in part because Alfonso X's ill health rendered him less able to carry out his duties and caused him to act arbitrarily. In 1282 an assembly of nobles, prelates, and townsmen transferred the responsibilities of government from the king to Sancho. While the Muslims continued to threaten the kingdom externally, Castile was torn apart by civil war until the king's death.
During the reign of Sancho IV (1284) domestic and foreign supporters of his nephew maintained a steady opposition. At the same time, Sancho had to defend the realm against another Muslim invasion from Morocco. Thus began a long struggle to control the Strait of Gibraltar and to close that invasion route.
