Feastday: May 30
Patron of engineers
Died: 1252
Ferdinand
III of Castile was the son of Alfonso IX, King of Leon, and Berengaria,
daughter of Alfonso III, King of Castile (Spain). He was declared king
of Castile at age eighteen. Ferdinand was born near Salamanca;
proclaimed king of Palencia, Valladolid, and Burgos; his mother advised
and assisted him during his young reign. He married Princess Beatrice,
daughter of Philip of Suabia, King of Germany and they had seven sons and three daughters. His father (the king of
Leon) turned against him and tried to take over his rule. The two
reconciled later, and fought successfully against the Moors. In 1225, he
held back Islamic invaders; prayed and fasted to prepare for the war;
extremely devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Between 1234-36, Ferdinand
conquered the city of Cordoba from the Moors. Queen Beatrice died in
1236, and he overtook Seville shortly thereafter. He founded the Cathedral of Burgos
and the University of Salamanca; married Joan of Ponthieu after the
death of Beatrice. He died on May 30th after a prolonged illness, and
buried in the habit of his secular Franciscan Order. His remains are preserved in the Cathedral of Seville and was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. Ferdinand was a great administrator and a man of deep faith. He founded hospitals
and bishoprics, monasteries, chuches, and cathedrals during his reign.
Her also compiled and reformed a code of laws which were used until the
modern era. Ferdinand rebuilt the Cathedral of Burgos and changed the mosque in Seville into a Cathedral. He was a just ruler, frequently pardoning former offenders to his throne. His feast day is May 30th.
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