• Born: Abt Jun 1180, Segovia, Castile, Spain
• Married (1): 1188
• Married (2): Dec 1197, Valladolid, Spain
• Died: 8 Nov 1246, Las Huelgas, Burgos, Castile y León, Spain

  Research Notes:

The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Henricum qui iuvenis obiit et quinque sorores, prima Berengaria…secunda Urraca, tertia regina Francie, quarta Alienor, quinta Constantia monialis" as children of "sorore regis Anglie Richardi…Alienor…soror ex alio patre comitisse Marie Campaniensis", specifying that Berengaria was wife of "regi Legionensi id est regi Galicie…Alfunsus" and mother of "Fernandum successorem regis parvi in Castella et Toledo" and recording their marriage was initially permitted by Pope Innocent III despite consanguinity but subsequently prohibited, after which Berengaria became a Cistercian nun at Burgos. Her date of birth is calculated from Robert of Torigny recording the birth "circa Pascha" in 1181 of "filium Sancius" to "Alienor filia regis Anglorum uxor Anfulsi regis de Castella", stating that she had previously had one daughter.

Alfonso VIII King of Castile "cum uxore mea Alionor regina et cum filiabus meis Berengaria et Sancia Infantissis" exchanged property with the Templars by charter dated 26 Jan 1183. The Annales Compostellani record that “Rex Aldef.” betrothed “filias suas” in 1188. The identity of Berenguela´s first husband is confirmed by the charter dated 14 Oct 1190 under which "Aldefonsus…rex Castelle et Toleti…cum uxore mea Alienor regina et cum filio meo Ferrando" donated property to the abbey of Silos, which also refers to the marriage between "romani imperatoris filium Conradum" and "filiam suam Berengariam". The Crónica Latina records that “Conrado, hijo de Federico, emperador de los romanos” was betrothed to “el rey de Castilla…su hija doña Berenguela”, adding that she was barely eight years old at the time. Her second marriage, arranged by her father as part of the peace process with León, caused religious fury because of the close relationship of the parties. The Chronicon de Cardeña records that “Rey D. Alfonso de Leon” married “D. Alfonso…so fija Doña Berenguela”. The Crónica Latina records that “doña Berenguela, hija del rey de Castilla” was married to “el rey de León”, when peace was established between Castile and León following the defeat at the battle of Alarcos, despite being related in the second degree of consanguinity. Pope Innocent III excommunicated the couple, placed Castile and León under an interdict, and eventually annulled the marriage though agreed that their children remained legitimate. Infanta Berenguela became a nun at Las Huelgas in 1204, after separating from her husband.

Regent for her brother Enrique I 1214, she became heiress in her own right to Castile, Toledo and Extremadura on his death but immediately ceded her rights to her son Infante don Fernando. She retired from public life in 1230, after transferring full power to her son.

The Chronicon de Cardeña records the death in 1240 of “la Reyna Doña Berenguela, madre del Rey D. Fernando”. The necrology of the Prieuré de Fontaines records the death "31 Oct" of "domina Berengeria, regina Castille et Toleti, soror domine Blanche Francorum regine". ¹