Person Page 456

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.

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.

[edit] Marriage and issueFernando was married to Juana Núñez de Lara, who is also known as Lady of Lara. The couple had three daughters and a son,

Juan Núñez de Lara (1313–1350), married Maria de Haro
Blanche Núñez de Lara (1311–1347), married Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena and was mother of Juana Manuel of Castile, consort of Henry II of Castile and mother of John I of Castile.
Margaret Núñez de Lara, a nun
Maria Núñez de Lara, married Charles II of Alençon and was mother of Charles III of Alençon.

Juana Núñez de Lara (1286–1351) was a daughter of Juan Núñez de Lara “el Mayor” and his wife Teresa Diaz de Haro of the lordship of Biscaye. Juana is also known as la Palomilla or Lady of Lara.

[edit] MarriagesJuana was firstly married to Infante Enrique of Castile, son of Ferdinand III of Castile and his first wife Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen. The marriage was childless and Enrique died in 1304, leaving Juana a young widow[1].

Juana was secondly married to Fernando de la Cerda, son of Ferdinand de la Cerda and his wife Blanche of France. Blanche was a daughter of Louis IX of France and Marguerite of Provence. Juana and Fernando had four children:

John Núñez de Lara (1313–1350), married Maria de Haro.
Blanche Núñez de Lara (1311–1347), married Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena and was mother of Juana Manuel of Castile, consort of Henry II of Castile and mother of John I of Castile.
Margaret Núñez de Lara, a nun.
Maria Núñez de Lara, married Charles II of Alençon and was mother of Charles III of Alençon.
Their daughter, Blanche was mother of Juana Manuel of Castile. Juana Manuel was married to king Henry II of Castile and was mother of king John I of Castile and Infanta Leonor of Castile.

Juana's husband died in 1322, Juana herself died in Palencia in 1351.