Book Review: Berenguela the Great and Her Times (1180-1246) by H. Salvador Martínez

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Berenguela of Castile was born in 1180 as the eldest daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England. She was the heir presumptive to the Castilian throne for several years but was subsequently pushed down the line of succession by the births of her brothers Ferdinand (1189-1211) and Henry (1204-1217). The latter succeeded their father in 1214, but he would die young after being hit by a falling tile. Berenguela then became Queen of Castile in her own right, and by then, she had already lived through quite a few bumps in the road.

As a child, she was betrothed to Conrad II, Duke of Swabia, but this ended with his death in 1196. The following year, she married King Alfonso IX of León, and they had five children together before the marriage was annulled on the grounds of consanguinity. Luckily, they were able to establish the legitimacy of their children. Berenguela acted as regent for his minor brother and, upon his death, kept the crown for herself only long enough for her son to travel to her, and she was then able to abdicate in his favour. However, she continued to be her son’s closest adviser and was a very influential woman. 

Berenguela the Great and Her Times (1180-1246) by H. Salvador Martínez examines the life of this extraordinary woman in detail, leaving no stone unturned. The attention to detail is quite something else. The academic nature of this book can sometimes make it feel like it’s dragging on a bit, and it was a little difficult to pick up again after a pause. Overall, I enjoyed this look at one of the greatest Queens in history, and I can only hope that the paperback version of this book, if it ever comes, does not carry the atrocious price tag of the hardcover version.

Berenguela the Great and Her Times (1180-1246) by H. Salvador Martínez is available now in the US and the UK.