Berenguela de Castilla
XIII CENTURY

Berenguela of Castile was the daughter of King Alfonso X, The Wise and Queen Doña Violante. She was born in Seville in the Palace of the Royal Alcázares and was known for her religious vocation.

In her youth she had been engaged twice, the first time a son of Saint Louis, King of France, and the second engagement was to Felipe Courtenay, son of Balduino of Constantinople and Madame de Brienne. Neither of the two marriages ever took place.

Berenguela decided to renounce the vanities of this world, with which she was more than well acquainted, and with great humility professed as a novice in the Royal Monastery of Santa María de las Huelgas of Burgos. There, she eventually became an abbess.

During the part of her life dedicated to her religious vocation, she established several monastic foundations. One of the most outstanding is the Convent of Santa Clara de Toro, in which church she is buried.