Una reina en estado: Leonor de Castilla (1241-1290). Perspectiva historiográfica y aproximación a su estudio

Abstract

This article aims to provide a first overview in Spanish of the childbearing of a Castilian queen of England: Eleanor of Castile (1240-1291). Firstly, the queen is presented, highlighting the importance that motherhood and her role as “heirs’ provider” played in her political life and in her memory. Surprisingly –although accordingly with the general historiographical studies about this character– the works about the first stage of the Elanor’s maternity are scarce, limited and they present mistakes, something which has undoubtedly been influenced by the difficulties posed by the direct primary sources about this queen. This article presents some general sources that other historians have used from different perspectives because of their possibilities and potential, assessing how they could help in the knowledge of the queenship of Eleanor of Castile.