Chapter 187 - Concerning the impediments which the Doctor said prevented Dona Inês from being the wife of King Pedro

Summary

Having shown clearly that it was never certain that Dona Inês was King Pedro's wife, and that all his arguments were very dubious and attested great ignorance, it remains for us to look at the stronger second point, namely, if perchance she had been his legitimate wife, whether such a marriage was valid. I now submit that it was not, because of the following impediments.

It is a fact that Dona Inês was King Pedro's niece, the daughter of his first cousin, as follows: King Pedro was the son of Queen Beatriz, the daughter of King Sancho [IV] of Castile. Doña Violante [Sánchez], who was the wife of Fernán Rodríguez de Castro, and Queen Beatriz were [half-]sisters, being daughters of the said King Sancho, although by different mothers. The mother of Doña Violante Sánchez was a lady called Doña Maria Alfonso, who was the wife of García de Ucero. Doña Violante Sánchez was in turn the mother of Don Pedro [Fernández] de Castro, known as ‘da Guerra’, who was the father of this Dona Inês. Therefore, Dona Inês was King Pedro's niece by virtue of her father being his first cousin.

Let us not occupy ourselves with what some people say, about King Pedro first having married Princess Blanca, the daughter of Prince Pedro of Castile who was killed in the vale of Granada, how she was brought to this kingdom and he received her as his legitimate wife in this city before he married Princess Constanza; and that therefore, King Fernando was illegitimate and unable to succeed; because, that is not how it happened, and it is of no relevance to our purpose.

But let us now come to one great impediment, beside the others, on account of which the Pope would not have granted a dispensation, whatever might come to pass, for which reason Dona Inês could in no way be his wife. Here it is: when King Pedro was still a prince and married to Princess Constanza, they had a son called Prince Luís. When he was baptised in this city, Dona Inês was made the boy's godmother and consequently became [spiritually] related to King Pedro. After that, Princess Constanza would often address her as ‘cummer’ showing her respect, as is the custom.