Urracca, Queen of Portugal

## Urracca of Castile

Queen Consort of Portugal

**Urracca of Castile** (C. September 1152 - 1168) was Queen Consort of Portugal by her marriage to Sancho II of Portugal, when she was 11 in 1163, she married Sancho who was Prince of Portugal, Sancho died in a hunting accident, leaving Urracca's 24 year old husband the crown, Urracca of Castile was crowned alongside her husband in Lisbon. In 1168, her father was very ill, and close to death, he wanted Urracca to act as regent for her 10 year old younger brother Henry of Castile. But Urracca's older sister Berengaria of Castile wanted to act as regent, but there father Alfonso refused to allow her to, so Berengaria had Urrracca stabbed to death in her bedroom. Urracca's body was carried back to her husband, she had only had one child Sancho, the future king of Portugal. Her husband remarried and had more children, but Sancho was the only-one that succeeded him. Urracca was buried next to her husband.

## Early Life

### Early Years

Urracca of Castile was born in September of 1152, she was the younger sister of Berengaria of Castile, she was her fathers favorite because of her darling mood, Urracca was the daughter of Eleanor of England and Alfonso VIII of Castile. Urracca was a very tall Infanta, and she towered over her younger sister Eleanor. Urracca was the maternal grand-daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England.

### Betrothal

Urracca wen't with her mother and sister to Toledo Exquisite, Berengaria was not fond of Urracca and had a hard ride with her, when they arrived, Berengaria impressed the exquisite with her sass. Urracca was also well liked at the exquisite, Berengaria was betrothed to Alfonso of León, the heir to León. Urracca was then Betrothed to the heir of Portugal when she was 8. She wen't back to Castile while her father was putting together her dowry.

## Marriage

When Urracca was 11, her father had put together her dowry, which included 8,000 euros and gold. When she arrived in Portugal, she was greeted by the Queen, Dulce of Aragon. Urracca was married to her 23 year old husband the day after. Urracca's father-in-law died in a hunting accident a year after, while Urracca was with her ladies-in-waiting. Urracca was crowned Queen of Portugal with her husband who was known as Sancho the Cruel for his little mercy, but despite having an unpopular husband, she was beyond popular, in fact she is one of the most well known Portuguese Queen's, in Portuguese history. Her husband was also quite fond of her, 2 years into there marriage, Urracca gave birth to a son Sancho of Portugal, who was named for Sancho II.

## Reconquista

In home, Urracca's mother was fighting both the Crusades and the Reconquista. Urracca fought in the crusades during the 10th and 11th Crusade, and the Reconquista, but she found little interest in aiding her home with Portuguese money, much to her mother's disaproval. Urracca encouraged the efforts of the Portuguese Reconquista. Urracca's sister who was not far from Portugal in León, tried to poison Urracca's son. But Urracca did not trust her sister and forbid Berengaria from getting near Prince Sancho.

## Murder

In 1168, Urracca's sick father wanted Urracca to be the regent of Castile, if he were to die, the 16 year old was delighted and honored and wrote back agreeing, but her older sister believed she was entitled to the title regent of Castile as she being the eldest. But Alfonso refused to grant Berengaria that title. Urracca started to make her way to Burgos to start claiming her title, while in a Castle her mother granted her, Urracca was sitting down writing to her father, but Berengaria stabbed Urracca in the chest 82 times, her body was thrown down the stairs and dragged across the Castle to alert the King Urracca had been murdered. Alfonso devastated sent Urracca's body to her husband to be buried next to Afonso I of Portugal, who was the first King of Portugal. Urracca's son is remebered as "Sancho the Great."