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Henry IV of Castile

Also known as Henry the Impotent (epithet)

Casa de las Aldabas, 14 Jan 1425 – Madrid, 20 Dec 1474

15 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born14 Jan 1425, Casa de las AldabasRecords disagree1 source
  • MarriedBlanche II of Navarrenot verified1 source
  • MarriedJoan of Portugalnot verified1 source
  • TitlePrince of Asturias, 1425–1454or Grand Master of the Order of Santiago, 1453–1462 · Monarch of Castile and Leon, 1454–1474not verified1 source
  • TitleGrand Master of the Order of Santiago, 1453–1462or Prince of Asturias, 1425–1454 · Monarch of Castile and Leon, 1454–1474not verified1 source
  • TitleMonarch of Castile and Leon, 1454–1474or Prince of Asturias, 1425–1454 · Grand Master of the Order of Santiago, 1453–1462not verified1 source
  • Died20 Dec 1474, Madridnot verified1 source
  • MotherMaria of Aragonnot verified1 source
  • FatherJohn II of Castilenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 1425–1454

    Prince of Asturias

  2. 14 Jan 1425

    Born in Casa de las Aldabas

  3. 1453–1462

    Grand Master of the Order of Santiago

  4. 1454–1474

    Monarch of Castile and Leon

  5. 9 Mar 1462

    A daughter is born

  6. 20 Dec 1474

    Dies in Madrid, aged 49

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Casa de las Aldabas.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1440s · Henry IV is 15 to 24

What people wore

Around 1500–1524

Men's Hairstyles and Layered Robes

Men often grew long beards and hair, sometimes styling the tips into curls. Clothing could be layered, with high-status individuals wearing a pellizón, which was a long robe with wide, loose sleeves that could be knotted at the ends.

Daily life

Around 1500–1524

Domestic heating and cleaning methods

Households used braziers to heat laundry and water for cleaning, as homes lacked modern amenities like running water.

Work

Around 1500–1524

Seasonal and domestic labor rhythms

Daily life followed seasonal tasks like the pig slaughter in November, a scene frequently depicted in medieval carvings and paintings. Household chores often centered around the hearth, where servants and family members performed tasks like drying laundry.

Music

Around 1500–1524

Entertainment at new mass celebrations

New mass celebrations often lasted two days, featuring hired minstrels for entertainment; attendees often gave money to the hosts, believing it helped secure indulgences.

At the table

Around 1500–1524

Wine as a daily essential drink

Wine was the essential daily drink, considered vital for health and often mixed with water because pure water was frequently unsafe to consume. It was consumed by all social classes, and many people carried their own measuring tools to ensure the wine was diluted correctly.

Getting around

Around 1500–1524

Limited river navigation

Rivers in the region were generally not navigable, except for the Ebro, where small boats transported goods like grain, wine, and iron.

What it cost

Around 1500–1524

Labor Wages in Construction Projects

For construction projects like fortification, labor wages accounted for between 65 and 100 percent of total costs.