Elvira of Castile, Queen of Sicily

Elvira of Castile (c. 1100 – 8 February 1135) was the first Queen of Sicily.

Background and upbringing

She was a daughter of Alfonso VI of Castile by his fourth queen, Isabella (perhaps identical to the Moslem convert Zaida of Seville, baptized as Isabel, who had been Alfonso's mistress). Elvira was raised in Toledo, so she must have been accustomed to a significant level of convivencia, which was present in Sicily as well.^[1]

Marriage

Elvira married Roger II of Sicily in 1117.^[1] In 1130, she became queen of Sicily when her husband had himself crowned king. She bore Roger five sons and one daughter by 1135.^[1]

In 1135, both Roger and Elvira fell ill. The illness was grave and infectious. Roger survived, but Elvira did not.^[2] Roger remained a widower for fifteen years and remarried only when four out of five of his sons with Elvira died.^[2]

Issue

• Roger (b. 1118 – d. 12 May 1148), heir, Duke of Apulia (from 1135), possibly also Count of Lecce.^[1]
• Tancred (b. 1119 – d. 1138), Prince of Bari (from 1135).^[1]
• Alfonso (b. 1120/1121 – d. 10 October 1144), Prince of Capua (from 1135) and Duke of Naples.^[1]
• A daughter (d. young, 1135).
• William I of Sicily (b. 1131 – d. 7 May 1166), his successor, Duke of Apulia (from 1148).^[1]
• Henry (b. 1135 – d. in infancy).^[1]

Notes

References

• Hubert Houben, Roger II of Sicily: A Ruler Between East and West, Cambridge University Press, 2002.