Henry II of Castile and León

Henry II of Castile and León (c. 1333-1379), known as Henry (Enrique) of Trastamara, king of Castile and León (1369-1379), born in Seville. He was the illegitimate son of Alfonso XI of Castile, who made him count of Trastamara. After the accession of Alfonso's legitimate son, Peter the Cruel, to the throne of Castile and León in 1350, Henry fled to France. With an army of mercenaries financed by the kings of France and Aragón, Henry invaded Castile in 1366 and drove Peter from the throne. Edward, Prince of Wales, intervened for Peter, however, and defeated Henry at Nájera in 1367. Henry defeated and killed Peter in 1369, becoming king and continuing his alliance with Charles V of France in the Hundred Years' War. In 1372 his navy destroyed an English fleet off La Rochelle. He was succeeded by his son John I.