León and Castile

Alfonso VI (1030-1109) was king of León from 1065 to 1109, and of Castile from 1072 to 1109. He inherited León from his father, Ferdinand I, and Castile from his elder brother, Sancho II, who was assassinated in 1072. Alfonso seized Galicia from his younger brother Garcia in 1073.

Alfonso's reign is notable for the impetus given the Christian campaign to reconquer Spain from the Moors. Aided by Rodrigo Díaz de Bivar (the Cid), Alfonso advanced the Christian frontier to the Tagus River by capturing Toledo in 1085.

Alfonso X (1221-1284) was king of León and Castile from 1252 to 1284. He succeeded his father, Ferdinand III. Alfonso was a historian, poet, and patron of learning, and was known as Alfonso the Learned. He directed the compilation of a code of laws, Las Siete Partidas , and a collection of astronomical information, the Alfonsine Tables.

Alfonso wanted to become the Holy Roman Emperor, but the German states, the pope, and Alfonso's own nobles opposed him. He gave up his campaign in 1275 in return for his opponents' pledge to help finance Spain's ongoing wars with the Moors. In 1282 Alfonso's son Prince Sancho led a rebellion. Alfonso retreated to Seville, the only city that remained loyal to him, and remained king in name only.