Peter of Castile, also known as Peter the Cruel and the Just, was the Spanish king of Castile and León from 1350 to 1369. Despite being accused of extreme cruelty by his contemporaries, later historians recognized him as a strong executor of justice and nicknamed him “Peter the Lawful”. Born as the son and successor of Alfonso XI of Castile, he ascended to the throne at a young age and initially faced strict control from his mother and her favored courtiers. Seeking independence, he enlisted the help of Minister Alburquerque and managed to break free from his mother’s influence. However, he succumbed to pressure and entered into a forced marriage with Blanche of Bourbon, whom he promptly abandoned. His reign was marked by constant warfare with Aragon, known as the “War of the Two Peters”, during which he gained infamy for his brutal murders, earning him the moniker Peter the Cruel. Despite facing competition from his half-brothers, including Henry of Trastámara, Peter’s reign was ultimately cut short by assassination.
Quick Facts
- Spanish Celebrities Born In August
- Also Known As: Peter the Cruel, Peter the Just
- Died At Age: 34
- Died on: March 23, 1369
- Place of Death: Montiel, Spain
- Cause of Death: Killed
Family
- Spouse/Ex-: Blanche of Bourbon, María de Padilla
- Father: Alfonso XI of Castile
- Mother: Maria of Portugal, Queen of Castile
- Siblings: Henry II of Castile
- Children: Constance of Castile, Duchess of Lancaster, Duchess of York, Isabella of Castile
Emperors & Kings
- Spanish Men
Childhood & Early Life
Peter was born on 30 August 1334 in the tower of the Monasterio de Santa Maria la Real de Las Huelgas in Burgos, Spain. His parents were Alfonso XI, the king of Castile, León and Galicia, and Maria of Portugal, daughter of Afonso IV of Portugal. Peter received a good education and grew up to be a well-read young man. He had a love for entertainment, music, and poetry.
Accession & Reign
After his father’s death in March 1350, Peter became the king of Castile at the age of 16. However, due to his young age and inexperience, his mother and her favorite nobles began to dominate the affairs of the court. Peter sought the help of the minister Albuquerque to free himself from his mother’s control.
Peter’s reign was marked by constant warfare. He had several illegitimate half-brothers who were vying for the throne, with Henry of Trastámara being the most powerful among them. Peter crushed several revolts led by Henry. In 1356, a war known as the “War of the Two Peters” broke out between Peter of Castile and Peter IV of Aragon. Peter of Castile gained a reputation for being a cruel king during this time.
In 1366, Henry assembled a large army with the support of the kings of France and Aragon and invaded Castile. Peter was forced to flee and sought assistance from Edward, the Black Prince, and James IV of Majorca. With their help, Peter was able to reclaim the throne by defeating Henry in the Battle of Nájera in 1367.
However, Henry returned to Castile in 1368 and in March 1369, Peter and Henry’s forces met at Montiel. Negotiations were opened between the two brothers, but Peter was betrayed by du Guesclin, leading to his assassination at the hands of Henry.
Major Battle
Peter of Castile engaged in a fierce battle with Peter IV of Aragon from 1356 to 1366, known as The War of the Two Peters. Peter of Castile aimed to claim the Kingdom of Valencia, while Peter IV of Aragon sought to dominate the Mediterranean in opposition to Castile. Peter of Castile successfully conquered several territories during the war.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1352, Peter met María de Padilla and fell in love with her. They secretly married in 1353. However, Peter’s mother forced him to marry Blanche of Bourbon the same year. Peter deserted his new wife and continued his relationship with Maria, who bore him four children. Maria died in 1361. Peter also had children with Juana de Castro and Teresa de Ayala.
Peter of Castile was assassinated by Henry on 23 March 1369.