Castile (Of Lions and Falcons)

The Kingdom of Castile is a large and powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

History
Between 1072 and 1157 it was again united with León. Throughout the 11th century the Castilian kings made extensive conquests in the southern Iberia (Al-Andalus at the expense of the Islamic polities.

Against the Almohads two important battles lead by Alfonso VII where Los Alarcos (1195) and Las Navas de Tolosa (1212). Both a complete disaster for Castile and her Spanish allies. In the last one an arrow strikes down Alfonso VII and dies. Toledo, in possession of Castile since 1085, was retaken by the Moors and established a de facto frontier to the south of the Tagus.

According to Alfonso VII's will a regency under his Queen Eleanor Plantaganet was established. Queen Leonor, already a political figure on her own, had to deal with her daughter's husband Alfonso IX of León invasions to regain lands ceded by pacts of Castile (The Castilian-Leonese Wars).

Kings of Castile

 * -... (Jiménez dynasty)
 * Alfonso VII (1155-1212) 31 August 1158 – 16 July 1212
 * Regency of Eleanor Plantaganet July 1212-...