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History - OnThisDay - 14 April 1204 - Birth of King Henry I of Castile, who died at the age of 13!

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On 14 April 1204, Henry I (Spanish: Enrique) of Castile was born in Valladolid, nowadays a part of the Kingdom of Spain. Family Henry was born as a son of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile. His paternal grandparents were King Sancho III of Castile and Blance of Navarre. His maternal grandparents were King Henry II of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine . He had siblings inter alia: - Berengaria, Queen of Castile; - Urraca, Queen of Portugal, was married to King Alfonso II of Portugal; - Blanche, Queen of France, was married to King Louis VIII of France; - Eleanor, Queen of Aragon, was married to King James I of Aragon. Duty In 1211, Henry became heir to the throne when his older brother, Ferdinand, suddenly died. When his father died in 1214, Henry was just 10 years old so the regency was assumed by Henry's older sister Berengaria of Castle, wife of King Alfonso IX of Leon. In 1215, at the age of 11, Hen

Royal Families of Europe: House of Savoy - A struggle for power

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The House of Savoy was founded in 1003 and became one of the most important royal families in Europe. The origins of the House of Savoy Savoy was an historical area located in the Alpine region between what is now France and Italy. The House of Savoy expanded its territory and influence through marriages and international diplomacy. From rulers of a small region between France and Italy this dynasty had after centuries influence over nearly the complete Italian Peninsula. The House of Savoy and their titles Members of the House of Savoy bore magnificent titles as: - Count of Savoy(1003-1416); - Duke of Savoy (1416 -1792); (1814-1860); - King of Cyprus (1485-1946); - King of Jerusalem (1485-1946); - King of Armenia (1485 -1946); - King of Sicily (1713-1720); - King of Sardinia (1720-1861); - King of Italy (1861-1946); - King of Spain (1870-1873); - Emperor of Ethiopia (1936-1941); - King of the Albanians (1939-1943); - King of Croatia (1941-1943); and many