2021-05-19 Wed

John II king of Castile from 1406 to 1454; his political weakness led him to rely on his favourite, Alvaro de Luna, whom he made constable. He was nevertheless considered a man of cultivated taste and a patron of poets.

John II's reign, lasting 48 years was one of the longest in Castilian history, but John himself was not a particularly capable monarch. He spent his time verse-making, hunting, and holding tournaments.

John II's Regents declared the Valladolid laws in 1411, which restricted the social activity of Jews. Among the most notable of the provisions were outlining that Jews must wear distinctive clothes and banned them from holding administrative positions.

John II was the single largest contributor to the continuing construction of the Alcázar of Segovia and built the "New Tower" known today as the "Tower of John II". John II died on 20 July 1454 in Valladolid. Depicted here is gold Dobla de la banda issued under his reign. The obverse of a coin depicts Arms of Castile and Leon.

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