known as Sancho the Brave
born 1257
died April 25, 1295, Toledo, Castile
King of Castile and Leon (128495).
The second son of Afonso X, he won the backing of nobles and military orders in his effort to gain recognition as heir, and he usurped the throne on his father's death. Sancho defeated an invasion of Andalusia by the king of Fès (1290) and won the support of Aragon by marrying his son to the daughter of James II . He depended greatly on his warrior-queen, María de Molina (d. 1321).