The Death of Ferdinand II of León (1188)

In January 1188, while returning from a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, King Ferdinand II of León died in Benavente. His journey to the shrine of Saint James, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in medieval Christendom, was part of a long tradition of royal devotion to the apostle Santiago, the patron saint of Iberian Christian kingdoms.

Following his death, Ferdinand II was buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, resting alongside other Leonese monarchs. His passing marked the end of a reign defined by territorial conflicts, shifting alliances, and ongoing struggles with both Portugal and Castile. His son and successor, Alfonso IX, inherited a kingdom still entangled in dynastic rivalries and political challenges.