Towards the end of his life he reneged and declared as his heir his youngest daughter, Guillemette, but upon his death Béarn was seized by Margaret's husband, Roger-Bernard III of Foix.
Gaston was highly reputed as a warrior, staunch defender of the Béarnais, ally of the French, and enemy of the English.
However, in 1252 Gaston once more rebelled when he allied with Alfonso X of Castile, who had laid claim to the Duchy of Gascony.
This time Henry III pursued a diplomatic strategy; he arranged a marriage between his son Edward and Alfonso's daughter Eleanor.
[2] Between 1245 and 1250 Gaston married Martha, Viscountess of Marsan (also called Amata of Mastas; died 1270/3), daughter of Boson de Mathe, lord of Cognac, and Petronilla of Bigorre.