Fernando de la Cerda (1275–1322)

Fernando de la Cerda (1275–1322) was the younger son of Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile and his wife Blanche of France. His paternal grandparents were Alfonso X of Castile and Violant of Aragon. His maternal grandparents were Louis IX of France and Marguerite of Provence. His elder brother was Alfonso de la Cerda.

Ferdinand de la Cerda
Lord consort of Lara
Arms of the House of La Cerda before 1376
Born	1275
Died	Shortly after 1 June 1322
Noble family	House de la Cerda
Spouse(s)	Juana Núñez de Lara
Issue	Juan Núñez III de Lara Blanche Núñez de Lara Margaret Núñez de Lara, a nun Maria Núñez de Lara
Father	Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile
Mother	Blanche of France

The fight for the throne

Fernando's father died before inheriting Castile. His elder brother, Alfonso, should have ascended the throne on his grandfather's death. In 1282 their uncle, Sancho assembled a coalition of nobles to declare for him against Fernando's elder brother, then took control of the kingdom when Alfonso X of Castile died in 1284. This was all against the wishes of the boys' grandfather, but Sancho was crowned in Toledo nevertheless.

Sancho was recognised and supported by the majority of the nobility and the cities, but a sizable minority opposed him throughout his reign and worked for Alfonso and Fernando. One of the leaders of the opposition was Don Juan, his uncle, who united to his cause the lord of Vizcaya, Lope Díaz III de Haro. Sancho responded by executing the lord of Vizcaya and incarcerating his uncle.

Marriage and issue

Fernando was married to Juana Núñez de Lara, who is also known as Lady of Lara. The couple had three daughters and a son,

• Juan Núñez de Lara (1313–1350), married Maria de Haro.
• Blanche Núñez de Lara (1311–1347), married Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena and was mother of Juana Manuel of Castile, consort of Henry II of Castile and mother of John I of Castile.
• Margaret Núñez de Lara, a nun.
• Maria Núñez de Lara, married Charles II of Alençon and was mother of Charles III of Alençon.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Fernando de la Cerda (1275–1322)

16. Alfonso IX of León 8. Ferdinand III of Castile 17. Berengaria of Castile 4. Alfonso X of Castile 18. Philip of Swabia 9. Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen 19. Irene Angelina 2. Ferdinand de la Cerda 20. Peter II of Aragon 10. James I of Aragon 21. Maria of Montpellier 5. Violant of Aragon 22. Andrew II of Hungary 11. Violant of Hungary 23. Yolanda de Courtenay 1. Ferdinand de la Cerda 24. Philip II of France 12. Louis VIII of France 25. Isabella of Hainault 6. Louis IX of France 26. Alfonso VIII of Castile 13. Blanche of Castile 27. Eleanor of England 3. Blanche of France 28. Alfonso II, Count of Provence 14. Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence 29. Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier 7. Margaret of Provence 30. Thomas I, Count of Savoy 15. Beatrice of Savoy 31. Margaret of Geneva

References

External links

• Fernando de la Cerda^{[permanent dead link]}
• Britannica online