Pedro the Cruel

Pedro the Cruel, king of Castile and Leon, was the only legitimate son of Alfonso XI., and was born at Burgos, 30th August 1334. On his father's death (1350) Pedro succeeded to the throne without opposition, but left the whole exercise of power to his mother, Donna Maria of Portugal, and Albuquerque, his father's prime-minister and chancellor. But by the instigation of his mistress (afterwards his queen), Marie de Padilla, Pedro emancipated himself in 1353 from the guidance of the queen-mother. He now obtained exceeding popularity; but the strict justice with which he decided all causes between the rich and poor, the clergy and the laity, combined with a haughty and imperious carriage towards them, alienated from him the nobles and clergy. The plottings of Albuquerque, who had fled to Portugal, having culminated (1354) in a revolt in Estremadura, Pedro marched against the rebels, but was betrayed by his brother Henry and taken prisoner. Escaping, he found himself speedily at the head of a powerful army, with which, despite the excommunication of the pope, he speedily reduced his opponents to submission. But having been betrayed by his relatives, and even by his mother, he became suspicious of every one; and the rest of his reign was devoted to the destruction of the power of the great vassals, the establishment of his own authority on the ruins of their feudal tyranny, and long-continued and bloody wars with the kingdoms of Aragon and Granada. He owes the epithet Cruel mainly to the murder of his brother Don Fadrique in 1358. But he is still often called in Spain 'the Justiciary,' from remembrance of his better qualities. The people were in general well and justly governed, but the heavy taxes imposed to maintain the cost of his long wars with Aragon and Granada dissipated his popularity. Henry, who had fled to France, now seizing the favourable opportunity, returned (1366) at the head of a body of exiles, backed by Bertrand du Guesclin (q.v.) with an army of mercenaries, and aided by Aragon, France, and the pope. Pedro, however, by great promises of territory and money, prevailed upon Edward the Black Prince to espouse his cause. Edward invaded Castile in the spring of 1367, totally defeated Henry and Du Guesclin at Navarrete (13th April), taking the latter prisoner. But the king disgusted his chivalrous ally by his cruelty to the vanquished, and paid no heed to his remonstrances; Edward accordingly repassed the Pyrenees, and left the misguided monarch to his fate. The whole kingdom groaned under his cruelties; rebellions broke out everywhere; and, in autumn 1367, Henry returned with 400 lances, the people immediately flocking to his standard. Pedro's scanty and ill-disciplined forces, including many Saracens, were routed at Montiel (14th March 1369), and himself compelled to retire for safety within the town, whence he was treacherously decoyed and captured by Du Guesclin. He was carried to a tent, where a single combat took place between him and Henry, in which Pedro was slain, 23d March 1369. See Prosper Mérimée's monograph (1848; 2d ed. 1865; Eng. trans. 1849).