For other Princes of Asturias named Alfonso, see Alfonso, Prince of Asturias

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Sculpture of Alfonso in his tomb in Brugos

Infante don Alfonso de Trastamara y Aviz, Prince of Asturias (1453–1468) was the figurehead of rebelling magnates against his brother Henry IV of Castile.

Alfonso was the only surviving son of John II of Castile, by his second wife Queen Isabel de Portugal, Henry IV being the product of his first marriage. Alfonso's sister, the future Queen Isabella I of Castile, was also the product of this second marriage.

Childhood

After the death of his father, John II, Alfonso, his mother and sister were virtually exiled, his mother to Arevalo and the children to Segovia. When Alfonso was around seven years of age the two children were moved to Henry's court at Madrid and were placed in Queen Juana's household. During this period it is rumored that Queen Juana tried to poison Alfonso on at least one occasion, to pave the way for her own daughter to inherit the throne.

Castilian and Leonese royalty
House of Trastámara

Henry II and I of Leon Children include    John I    Eleanor, Queen of Navarre John I Children include    Henry III of Castile and II of Leon)    Ferdinand I of Aragon, Valencia and Sicily Henry III and II of Leon Children include    John II    Maria, Queen of Aragon, Valencia, Sicily and Naples John II Children include    Henry IV of Castile and III of Leon    Isabella I    Alfonso, Prince of Asturias Henry IV and III of Leon Children    Joan, Queen of Portugal Isabella I with Ferdinand V Children    Isabella, Queen of Portugal    Juan, Prince of Asturias    Joanna I    Maria, Queen of Portugal    Catherine, Queen of England Joanna

Heir to the Throne

In early 1460s, Castillian nobles became dissatisfied with the rule of King Henry IV, and believed that the daughter (Joanna, Princess of Asturias, aka Juana la Beltraneja) that Henry's wife Queen Juana had given birth to was not sired by Henry and thus not a legitimate heir to the throne. The nobles forced Henry to repudiate Joanna in 1464 with the Representation of Burgos and recognize Alfonso as his official heir, whereby he became Prince of Asturias, a title previously held by Joanna. Henry agreed to this with the stipulation that Alfonso someday marry Joanna.

Not long after this, Henry reigned on his promise and the nobles now controlling Alfonso started an all-out civil war, clashing most notably at the Battle of Olmedo in 1467, which concluded as a draw.

However, in 1468 at the age of only 14, Alfonso died of a sickness, most likely the plague. (Although poison and slit throat as alternative causes of death have been suggested.) His sister Isabella was asked to take her brother's place as the leader of the rebels but she declined – she made peace with Henry and was recognized as his official heir, becoming Castile's next monarch when he died in 1474.

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