List of Leonese monarchs

In 910, an independent Kingdom of León was founded when the king of Asturias divided his territory amongst his three sons.

Ferdinand had previously been made Count of Castile in 1029, having been nominated by his father Sancho III of Navarre.

During his life, Castile was elevated to the status of kingdom, and having reduced Navarre to vassalage, Ferdinand took the title of Emperor of All Spain.

After Sancho was assassinated, His deposed brothers Alfonso and Garcia both attempted to return and reclaim their father's kingdoms.

His passion for his mistress led to her having 10 illegitimate children by him, one of whom, the future Henry II, deposed and executed Alfonso's son and successor, Peter.

Henry II, the founder of the Trastámara dynasty was installed after victory in the Castilian Civil War.

On Isabella's death, as she was succeeded by their daughter Joanna I and her husband Philip I. Ferdinand, no longer king, then left the Castile and returned to Aragon.

After a long reign Charles abdicated in 1556, dividing his lands between his son Philip II (who inherited the lands of the Crown of Castile (including the Americas), the Crown of Aragon, his Italian territories, and the Netherlands) and his younger brother Ferdinand, who inherited the rest.

In 1580, during a succession crisis in the Kingdom of Portugal when there was no obvious heir to the throne, Philip (a candidate in his own right) invaded and was made king that same year.