Constance of Castile (Nun)

Nun

**Constance of Castile** (C. 1158 - 1182) was a Castilian Infanta, as the daughter of Eleanor of England, and Alfonso VIII of Castile. When Constance turned 13, she was offered to the Duke of Burgundy, but Constance was way to pious to marry, so she became a nun before the Duke could marry her. She joined her older sister Mafalda of Castile in the Monastery of Santa María de Retuerta. Constance never participated in Crusades and spent her remaining years in the Monastery. Her sister died in 1182 of yellow fever, Constance caught yellow fever along with 6 other nuns, and they died 3 months later, Constance died age 25.

## Early Life

Constance of Castile was born in the early winter of 1158, she was the 7th child of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England, at an early age, she was raised by her aunt Berengaria of Navarre who was also Queen of England, as the wife of Richard the Lionheart. Constance was most likely named after her aunt Constance of England, who was the most famous crusader of the 5th Crusade. But Constance of Castile had little interest in blood-shed and more of religion and God, Constance's older sister Eleanor of Castile found her very boring cause of her lack of interest in Blood-shed.

## Attempted Bethrothal

Constance's parents had high hopes for Constance's future, they wanted Constance to marry the Duke of Burgundy to add Castilian Blood, into the Duchy of Burgundy. But Constance never had interest in marrying. Nevertheless the 18 year old Duke of Burgundy set sail for Castile, Constance found the Duke to be very annoying and rude, Constance refused to marry him and the Duke instead married Adelaide of Vohburg, who was the bride offered in Constance's replacement. Constance instead convinced her parents to let her join her sister Mafalda of Castile in the Monastery of Santa María de Retuerta. Which they disaproved at first, but then agreed after a few weeks.

## Life in the Nunnery

Constance never met her sister Mafalda before, Mafalda had been sent to a nunnery against her will by there mother before Constance was born. When Constance arrived, her sister greeted her with kindness, Constance officially took the oath of being a nun and quickly became best friends with her sister, her mother frequently to visit the girls. Constance enjoyed being a nun and caring for the poor, many other woman like Juana of Molina and Berenguela of Molina, and Caterina de Barcelos joined the Monastery, along with common woman that were poor. Constance spent her wealth on the poor, schools, and food for the homeless. She was beloved by the Monastery, who fondly called her Constanza Isabel.

## Death and Burial

A terrible wave of Yellow fever struck the Iberian peninsula, Castile was one of the countries that suffered the most from it. Constance's sister died of Yellow fever in mid 1182 at a young age, many more nun's fell ill and died, Constance tried her best to care for them, only to also catch yellow fever from a sick nun, Constance gave her will to the Monastery along with many other noble/royal nuns. She died aged 25, 3 weeks after her 25th birthday, she was buried next to Mafalda of Castile, and Isabella of Toro in the Monastery.