Quick Facts
Biography
Stephanie Alfonso of Castile (Spanish: Estefanía Alfonso de Castilla) (1139/1148 – 1 July 1180), also known as Stephanie the Unfortunate (Estefanía la Desdichada), was an illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VII of León and Castile and Urraca Fernández de Castro, widow of Count Rodrigo Martínez. She was married to Fernando Rodríguez de Castro, which earned her the soubriquet, "the Unfortunate".
Birth
Stephanie's date of birth must have occurred between 1139, when the relationship between Alfonso and her mother began, and 1148, the year in which Alfonso confers privileges in favor of Urraca and his daughter. Stephanie had many half-siblings, her older illegitimate sister was Urraca, who became Queen consort of Navarre. Her legitimate half-siblings included: Sancho III of Castile, Ferdinand II of León, Constance, Queen of France, Sancha, Queen of Navarre and Sancha, Queen of Aragon
Marriage
In 1157, Stephanie's father died while returning from an expedition and was succeeded in Castile by his son Sancho III, and in León by Fernando II.
It is unknown exactly when Stephanie married Fernando Rodríguez de Castro. According to some writers, it took place in 1168, while others report that they are married until 1174. Fernando, was master of the House of Castro, in addition he was governor of Cuéllar, Dueñas, Valladolid, Toro and Asturias at different times. He had divorced his first wife, Constanza Osorio, daughter of Count Osorio Martinez, the latter having been killed at the Battle of Lobregal.
Although her husband was a native of Castile, thus being dubbed "the Castilian", while in the kingdom of Castile, he was nicknamed "the Lion", he left the kingdom of Castile with his brothers, and achieved the rank of Major Butler from Stephanie's half-brother Ferdinand II of Leon, who granted him the hand of his sister. In 1170, two years after their marriage, Ferdinand II of León granted her possession of the Infantry of León.
- Mi esposa Estefanía, que está en gloria,
- fue del Séptimo Alfonso hija querida;
- desde hoy sabréis, al escuchar su historia,
- que hay desgracias sin fin en nuestra vida.
- Yo la maté celoso; y si, remiso,
- no me maté también la noche aquella,
- fue por matar después, si era preciso,
- a todo el que, cual yo, dudase de ella.
My wife Estefanía, who is in glory, / was of Alfonso VII a dear daughter; / after today you will know, upon listening to this story, / that there are disgraces without end in our life. // Jealous, I killed her; and if, reluctant, / I did not kill myself also that night, / it was to kill later, if it was necessary, / all who, like me, doubted her.
She bore her husband two sons, among them Pedro Fernández de Castro.
Death
On 1 July 1180, Stephanie was murdered by her husband, Fernando, who according to some sources listed, while others have left no record of the event, it is assumed that his wife had been unfaithful and murdered. When Fernando first heard about his wife's affair with an unknown man, he watched the lovers, he then later stabbed the man to death. Later, he entered the chambers of his wife and stabbed her to death. When Fernando realized what the situation had turned to, he begged for forgiveness from his brother-in-law the King. The King did not punish his brother-in-law for the murder.
Stephanie was buried in the basilica of San Isidoro de León. She left two young children.