Diego López III de Haro


Diego López III de Haro. Was the eldest son of Lope Díaz II de Haro and of Urraca Alfonso de León, the illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso IX of León. Diego succeeded his father as the Lord of Biscay between the years 1236 and 1254.

Biography

In his young adulthood, Diego loyally served his uncle, the King Ferdinand III of Castile. After his father fell out of favor with the king, Ferdinand III decided to revoke the hereditary titles of lordship over La Rioja but left him with Castilla la Vieja. In defiance, Diego rebelled against the king several time, each time being forgiven after the fact. Diego then remained loyal until Ferdinand III's death in 1252. Alfonso X of Castile ascended to the throne after the death of Ferdinand III. Diego, his cousin, continued to serve him in his same position, but their relationship was incredibly strained. Finally, Diego exercised his right to refuse obedience to the king and began searching for another qualified candidate to become King of Navarre.

Death

On October 4, 1254, Diego López III de Haro died in a town of La Rioja called Baños de Río Tobía. He was killed in a bathing tub filled with boiling water under the pretext that it would cure his rheumatism. He was buried in the Monastery of Santa María la Real of Nájera where his father and family members were previously entombed.

Marriage and Descendants

Diego married Constanza de Bearne, daughter of Vizconde Guillermo II de Bearne and his wife, Garsenda de Provenza. The couple had the following five children: