HENRY it., King of Castile (Henry I. died a boy in 1217), was the natural son of Alfonso Xi., and was born in January 1333. His brother, Don Pedro, on succeeding to the throne, showed him con siderable kindness; he called him and his mother to court, and made him count of Trastamare. The count however bore a secret hatred against his brother, and sought by all means to create discontent against him, which the severity and cruelty of Pedro rendered com paratively easy. A pretext for revolt was made from the deaths of the queen and of the mother of Henry, l'edro being accused as the cane of both. This insurrection was suppressed, and Henry fled to Portugal; he then joined the King of Aragon in an attack on Castile, wee again beaten, and fled to Franco. Here he raised a considerable body of troops, with Bertrand du Guesclin as commander. Under this leader he had some successes, and was crowned at Burgoe; but Edward the Black Prince coming to the assistance of Don Pedro, totally defeated Henry at the battle of Najera, and took Du Oueselin prisoner. Henry again fled to France ; but the cruelties of Pedro
excited fresh discontents, of which Henry took advantage : he obtained a declaration of his legitimacy from Pope Urban V., money from Charles V. of France, with which he ransomed Du Uuesclin, raised fresh troops, and again invaded Castile. Pedro, unsupported by the English prince, was now beaten, and fled to Monad, where In an Interview Henry slew him with his own hand.
Henry was now (1859) seated on the throne. Ho liberally rewarded Du Ouesclin and his other adherents, and than devoted himself to the well-governing of his people; he defended himself successfully against the kings of Portugal, Aragon, and Navarre. Ile died on the 29th of May 1379, and was succeeded by his son, John I.