Alfonso VIII (1155-1214), king of Castile (1158-1214); he succeeded to the throne on the death of his father, Sancho III (circa 1134-58). Troubled by interference from Navarre in his youth, he later allied Castile with Arag=n, forming a connection that was eventually to become the basis for the unification of Spain. He also established Castilian dominance over Le=n. In 1170 he married Eleanor (died 1214), daughter of King Henry II of England. From the 1170s, he resisted encroachments by the Almohads, Muslim invaders from northern Africa. Defeated by the Muslim caliph Yakub al-Mansur (circa 1160-99) at Alarcos in 1195, Alfonso and his allies won a major victory over the Muslim commander al-Nasir (1158-1225) at Navas de Tolosa in 1212.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 1158/1214