King Alfonso Raimúndez VII of León and Castile

  General Notes:

called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. Alfonso first used the title Emperor of All Spain, alongside his mother Urraca, once his mother vested him with the direct rule of Toledo in 1116. Alfonso later held another investiture in 1135 in a grand ceremony reasserting his claims to the Imperial title. He was the son of Urraca of León and Raymond of Burgundy, the first of the House of Burgundy to rule in the Iberian peninsula.

Alfonso was a dignified and somewhat enigmatic figure. His rule was characterised by the renewed supremacy of the western kingdoms of Christian Iberia over the eastern (Navarre and Aragón) after the reign of Alfonso the Battler. He also sought to make the imperial title meaningful in practice, though his attempts to rule over both Christian and Muslim populations was even less successful. His hegemonic intentions never saw fruition, however. During his tenure, Portugal became de facto independent, in 1128, and was recognized as de jure independent, in 1143. He was a patron of poets, including, probably, the troubadour Marcabru.

Alfonso married Berengaria of Barcelona, daughter of Count Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona, the Great and Countess Douce of Gévaudan I of Provence. (Berengaria of Barcelona was born in 1116 and died on 15 Jan 1149 in Palencia, , Castilla y León, ESP.)

Alfonso next married Queen Richeza of Poland of Castile, daughter of High Duke Wladyslaw of Poland II the Exile and Agnes of Babenberg, in 1152. (Queen Richeza of Poland of Castile was born circa 1140 and died on 16 Jun 1185.)