Noble family House de la Cerda Spouse Juana Nunez de Lara Died 1322 | Name Ferdinand la Mother Blanche of France | |
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Father Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile Children Maria de La Cerda y de Lara, Blanca de La Cerda y Lara Parents Ferdinand de la Cerda, Blanche of France, Infanta of Castile Grandchildren Juana Manuel, Charles III, Count of Alencon Similar People Maria de La Cerda y de Lara, Alfonso X of Castile, Violant of Aragon, Margaret of Provence, Louis IX of France | ||
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.
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The fight for the throne
Fernando's father died before inheriting Castile, his elder brother 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,