“The things that please god and men”: Berenguela, Conquest, and Crusade

Abstract

Although the Chronicon mundi was written under Berenguela’s patronage, Lucas of Túy’s figure of the queen is relatively reticent, except when it comes to her support of Fernando’s wars against the Muslims. Like other chroniclers, Lucas especially celebrated Berenguela in the context of the 1236 conquest of Córdoba. Here, however, he described the queen’s role after the unification of Castile and León in 1230. Berenguela’s political and administrative ability afforded Fernando the opportunity to focus his energies on God’s enemies while she protected his flock at home:

Indeed his mother, Queen Berenguela, had such highness and wisdom that she wisely and nobly ordered all matters in the administration of the realm, on account of which King Fernando safely lingered at war against the Muslims; therefore, Queen Berenguela acted wisely in his stead in the kingdom of León and Castile. In both kingdoms [the people] enjoyed such peace and security, that no one, neither small nor great, dared to take anyone else’s things by force. She had struck such fear into all heretics, so that they all hastened to flee both kingdoms. Queen Berenguela sent to her son King Fernando, while he was at war, knights, horses, gold, silver, food, and all the things abundantly that were necessary for his army.¹