Elvira of Castile (Sicilian queen)
Encyclopedia
Elvira of Castile was the first Queen of Sicily.
by his fourth queen, Isabella (perhaps identical to the Moslem convert Zaida of Seville
, baptized as Isabel, who had been Alfonso's mistress). Elvira was raised in Toledo
, so she must have gotten used to a significant level of convivencia which was present in Sicily as well.
in 1117, but only infrequently saw him thereafter, for he was much preoccupied with rebellions on the Italian Peninsula
and she stayed with her children in Palermo
the capital. Despite this, the marriage was undoubtedly happy. In 1130, she became queen of Sicily when her husband had himself crowned king. She bore Roger five sons and one daughter by 1135.
In 1135, both Roger and Elvira fell ill. The illness was grave and infectious. Roger survived, but Elvira did not. Her death put Roger in such a deep depression that he spent days alone in his room which made people think he had died. This unusual reaction proves that the marriage of Roger and Elvira was not yet another medieval political affair, but an extraordinary happy union. Roger remained a widower for fifteen years and remarried only when four out of five of his sons with Elvira died.
Background and upbringing
She was a daughter of Alfonso VI of CastileAlfonso VI of Castile
Alfonso VI , nicknamed the Brave or the Valiant, was King of León from 1065, King of Castile and de facto King of Galicia from 1072, and self-proclaimed "Emperor of all Spain". After the conquest of Toledo he was also self-proclaimed victoriosissimo rege in Toleto, et in Hispania et Gallecia...
by his fourth queen, Isabella (perhaps identical to the Moslem convert Zaida of Seville
Zaida of Seville
Zaida of Seville was a refugee Muslim princess who was a mistress and then perhaps queen of Alfonso VI of Castile.She is said by Iberian Muslim sources to have been the daughter-in-law of Al Mutamid, the Muslim King of Seville, wife of his son Abu al Fatah al Ma'Mun, Emir of Cordoba,...
, baptized as Isabel, who had been Alfonso's mistress). Elvira was raised in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, so she must have gotten used to a significant level of convivencia which was present in Sicily as well.
Marriage
Elvira married Count Roger II of SicilyRoger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
in 1117, but only infrequently saw him thereafter, for he was much preoccupied with rebellions on the Italian Peninsula
Italian Peninsula
The Italian Peninsula or Apennine Peninsula is one of the three large peninsulas of Southern Europe , spanning from the Po Valley in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south. The peninsula's shape gives it the nickname Lo Stivale...
and she stayed with her children in Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
the capital. Despite this, the marriage was undoubtedly happy. In 1130, she became queen of Sicily when her husband had himself crowned king. She bore Roger five sons and one daughter by 1135.
In 1135, both Roger and Elvira fell ill. The illness was grave and infectious. Roger survived, but Elvira did not. Her death put Roger in such a deep depression that he spent days alone in his room which made people think he had died. This unusual reaction proves that the marriage of Roger and Elvira was not yet another medieval political affair, but an extraordinary happy union. Roger remained a widower for fifteen years and remarried only when four out of five of his sons with Elvira died.
Issue
- RogerRoger III, Duke of ApuliaRoger III was the Norman duke of Apulia from 1135. He was the eldest son of King Roger II of Sicily and Elvira of Castile....
(b. 1118 – d. 12 May 1148), heir, Duke of Apulia (from 1135), possibly also Count of LecceLecceLecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
. - TancredTancred, Prince of BariTancred of Hauteville , one of many of that name, was the Prince of Bari and Taranto from 1132 to 1138.He was the second son of Roger II of Sicily and his first wife Elvira of Castile...
(b. 1119 – d. 1138), Prince of Bari (from 1135). - AlfonsoAlfonso of HautevilleAlfonso of Hauteville , third son of Roger II of Sicily and Elvira of Castile, was the prince of Capua from 1135 to his death.He was named after his maternal grandfather, Alfonso VI of Castile...
(b. 1120/1121 – d. 10 October 1144), Prince of Capua (from 1135) and Duke of Naples. - A daughter (d. young, 1135).
- WilliamWilliam I of SicilyWilliam I , called the Bad or the Wicked, was the second king of Sicily, ruling from his father's death in 1154 to his own...
(b. 1131 – d. 7 May 1166), his successor, Duke of Apulia (from 1148) - Henry (b. 1135 – d. in infancy).