So I started a TL a looooong time ago about a world where Sancho II, son of Ferdinand I of Leon-Castille, dies at birth, but it died. I decided to write something up today on the subject, and got this out of it. Dont know if I will continue this. Pretty much no Sancho means Alfonso is given Leon AND Castille, which makes his ambitions to conquer lands much easier. Anyways, enjoy.
The baby had died before being born. Suffocated by his mothers umbilical cord, which had tied around the babies neck, killing him. Ferdinand of Castille, and Sancha of Leon where devastated. The loss of their first pregnancy would come to hurt them. However, life must go on.*
~
Ferdinand I the Great had become Count of Castille in 1029 after the death of his uncle, and later, King of Leon after defeating and killing his brother-in-law, King Vermudo III of Leon. Afterwards, Ferdinand would push back the Moorish in Galicia and northern Portugal, and securing northern Iberia. He would later crown himself as Emperor of Hispania. Around May of 1040, Ferdinand would become a father. Alfonso was born. Later, Sancha would give birth to their second son, Garcia. Upon Ferdinand’s death in 1065, his lands where divided. Alfonso, being the eldest, would become the King of Leon-Castille. For Garcia, the area of Galicia and Northern Portugal would be split from Leon-Castille, creating the Kingdom of Galicia under Garcia(II).
Alfonso(VI) became King of presumptively the strongest of the north Iberian nations. His brother controlled Galicia, and his cousins, Sancho IV of Navarre, and Sancho Ramirez of Aragon, where envious of his power. So much so that in 1066 Sancho IV of Navarre would be able to convince his cousin in Aragon to join him in attacking Castille-Leon**. However, Alfonso IV was a formidable fighter. Over a course of 7 years, Alfonso would lead a successful counter-attack and invasion of Navarre. Navarre would fall under the hand on Alfonso IV in 1073, and Aragon would later become a vassal, which Alfonso would allow Sancho Ramirez to rule. In 1073 Alfonso would also marry Constance*** of Burgundy, they would eventually have a two sons, Alfonso V and Ferdinand.
By 1076 Alfonso IV ruled Leon, Castille, Navarre, and Aragon(as Vassal). Since the death of his mother in 1067, Alfonso had also had eyes on his brothers lands in Galicia. So after building up his troops once more, Alfonso would lead his troops to attack the Taifa of Badajoz, a client of Galicia, and thus started the war between Alfonso and his brother. Eventually Garcia would be killed in battle, and Alfonso would take the throne of Galicia as his own.
As of 1085 Alfonso IV of Leon-Castille, Navarre, and Galicia would be known as one of the greatest Kings, just as great as his predecessors. He crowned himself Emperor of all Hispania. Now all in front of him where the Moorish lands to the south. He began a campaign for Toledo, and was largely successful. He was able to gain control of lands under Castille right up to Toledo, and diminished Moorish power in western coast as well, so that by the time of his death a large part of Iberia was under his rule. In the eastern coast his established the lands as part of the new Duchy of Aragon-Valencia (which already controlled Catalonia after taking over the area in the 1090‘s under Sancho Ramirez) and by his death in 1113, power in Aragon-Valencia had been taken from his cousin, and put under his son Ramon. His death left Aragon-Valencia, Navarre, and Catalonia under Ramon, and Castille, Leon, and Galicia under Alfonso V.
* - The POD, Sancho dies at birth.
** - This happend in OTL a year earlier, and was called the Three Sanchos War, as it was fought by Sancho of Castille, Sancho of Navarre, and Sancho of Aragon. However, though Sancho of Castille did turn them back the war fell when Sancho went to help Galicia against Alfonso. Here, Alfonso is the King of Leon and Castille, as such when Navarre and Aragon attack, he puts his all into it, and after turning them back, he continues as he has not attacked Galicia, yet.
*** - He did marry her in OTL just later, here he marries her earlier.
Map of Iberia at the height of Alfonso IV's power, and its division between Ramon and Alfonso V in 1113.
