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- BIOGRAPHY
Estefania Alfonso, heiress of Infantado, was the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VII, king of Castile and León, by his mistress Urraca Fernández. She was married to Fernán Ruiz de Castro, which earned her the soubriquet 'the Unfortunate'.
Estefania's date of birth must have occurred between 1139, when the relationship between Alfonso and her mother began, and 1148, the year in which Alfonso conferred privileges in favour of Urraca and their daughter. Estefania had many half-siblings; her older illegitimate sister was Urraca Alfonso, who became queen consort of Navarre. Her legitimate half-siblings included Sancho III of Castile, Fernando II of León, Constance, queen of France, Sancha, queen of Navarre, and Sancha, queen of Aragón.
In 1157 Estefania's father died while returning from an expedition. He was succeeded in Castile by his son Sancho III, and in León by Fernando II.
It is not known exactly when Estefania married Fernán Ruiz de Castro, but according to some writers the wedding took place in 1168. Fernán had divorced his first wife Constanza Osorio, daughter of conde Osorio Martinez, who had been killed at the Battle of Lobregal in 1160. Estefania bore her husband two sons, Pedro and Martin, of whom Pedro would have progeny.
On 1 July 1180 Estefania was murdered by her husband Fernán, on the grounds that she had been unfaithful. When Fernán first heard about his wife's affaire with an unknown man, he watched the lovers, then stabbed the man to death. Later he entered the chambers of his wife and stabbed her to death.
Estefania was buried in the monastery of San Isidoro de León.
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