Henry III (
October 4, 1379–1406), sometimes known as
Henry the Sufferer or
Henry the Infirm (
Spanish: Enrique el Doliente) was the son of
John I and
Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as
King of
Castile and
León in
1390.
Henry was born in
Burgos, the capital of Castile. Before becoming king, he was known by the title
Prince of Asturias, designating him as the
heir apparent. After succeeding to the throne at 11, Henry took power at 14. He was able to pacify the nobility and restore royal power. During his reign, the Castilian fleet won several victories against the
English; Henry sent a naval fleet in
1400 that destroyed
Tétouan in
North Africa, a
pirate base. In
1402, Henry began the colonization of the
Canary Islands, sending French explorer
Jean de Béthencourt. He also sent envoys to
Timur.
In 1388, Henry married
Katherine of Lancaster (
Catalina de Lancaster;
1372–1418), the daughter of
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and Gaunt's second wife,
Constance of Castile, who was the elder daughter of
Pedro of Castile. This ended a dynastic conflict and solidified the House of Trastamara. Henry and Catherine's son became
John II of Castile, who succeeded Henry when he died in
Toledo, Catherine acting as Regent of Castile because John II was then underage.
