Alfonso X "El Sabio"
(1221-1284 ), Spain. King of Castille and León

Crowned in 1252, Alfonso X " (The Wise One) battled the moors and obtained the title of King of the Romans by the Archbishop of Treveris on behalf of the Electors of Saxony, Brandensburg and Bohemia. While away, the Cortes in Segovia named heir to the throne his second son Don Sancho. This brought on a civil war while the moorish troops were burning the Castillian fleet at Tarifa in 1278 and Pamplona fell to the French. Alfonso warred against his son but died grief stricken on 1284.

His true legacy was more intellectual, legal and literary than military. His General Chronicle of Spain and his Great and General History are considered exemplar. His Code of Seven Acts is a monumental work of jurisprudence, influential even today. He also wrote extensively on science, astronomy and astrology and published his famous work of poems Cantigas de Santa Maria in the galician language.