Integridad: Member

In 1328, Peter’s father, Afonso IV arranged for the marriage of his eldest daughter, Maria, to Alfonso XI of Castile. In 1334, she bore him a son, who ultimately became Peter of Castile. However, Maria returned home to her father in Portugal in 1335 because her royal husband soon after their marriage had begun a long affair with the beautiful and newly widowed Leonor de Guzman, which the Castilian king refused to end. Alfonso’s cousin, Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, had been rebuffed by the Castilian king in 1327 when the two-year child marriage between his daughter Constanza (granddaughter of James II of Aragon) and Alfonso had been annulled to clear the way for the marriage to Maria. For two years Juan Manuel had waged war against the Castilians, who had kept Constanza hostage, until Bishop John del Campo of Oviedo mediated a peace in 1329.

Enraged by Alfonso’s infidelity and mistreatment of his lawful wife, her father made a new alliance with the powerful Castilian aristocrat. Afonso married his son and heir, Peter, to Constanza, thereby allying himself with Juan Manuel. When Constanza arrived in Portugal in 1340, Inês de Castro, the beautiful and aristocratic daughter of a prominent Galicianfamily (with links albeit through illegitimacy, to the Portuguese and Castilian royal families), accompanied her as her lady-in-waiting.

Peter soon fell in love with Inês, and the two conducted a long love affair that lasted until Inês’s murder in 1355. Constanza died in 1345, weeks after giving birth to Fernando, who eventually became the first of Peter’s sons to succeed him as king of Portugal. The scandal of Peter’s affair with Inês, and its political ramifications, caused Afonso to banish Inês from court after Constanza died. Peter refused to marry any of the princesses his father suggested as a second wife; and the king refused to allow his son to marry Inês as Peter wanted. The two aristocratic lovers began living together in secret. According to the chronicle of Fernão Lopes, during this period, Peter began giving Inês’s brothers, exiles from the Castilian court, important positions in Portugal and they became the heir-apparent’s closest advisors. This alarmed Afonso. He worried that upon his death, civil war could tear the country apart, or the Portuguese throne would fall into Castilian hands, either as Juan Manuel fought to avenge his daughter’s honor, or the de Castro brothers supported their sister. Peter claimed that he had married Inês against his father’s orders. In any event, in 1355, Afonso sent three men to find Inês at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha in Coimbra, where she was detained, and they decapitated her in front of one of her young children. Enraged, Peter revolted against his father. Afonso defeated his son within a year, but died shortly thereafter, and Peter succeeded to the throne in 1357. The love affair and father-son conflict inspired more than twenty operas and many writers, including: the Portuguese national epic Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões, the Spanish “Nise lastimosa” and “Nise laureada” (1577) by Jerónimo Bermúdez and ‘Reinar despues de morir’ by Luís Vélez de Guevara, as well as “Inez de Castro” by Mary Russell Mitford and Henry de Montherlant’s French drama La Reine morte.

It was after after the loss Inês he was approached by his grandmother Elizabeth, who told him about Vampires, and told him she was sure Inês was Peter’s Mate.

He agreed to be Turned.

Integridad: Member

Born in 1271 into the royal house of Aragon, Elizabeth was the daughter of Infante Peter (later King King Peter III) and his wife Constance of Sicily and the sister of three kings: Alfonso II and James II of Aragon and Frederick III of Sicily.

Elizabeth showed an early enthusiasm for her faith. She said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and did other penance, as well as attended twice-daily choral Masses. Religious fervor was common in her family, as she could count several members of her family who were already venerated as saints. The most notable example is her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, after whom she was named.

Her marriage to King Denis of Portugal was arranged in 1281 when she was 10 years old, receiving the towns of Óbidos, Abrantes and Porto de Mós as part of her dowry. It was only in 1288 that the wedding was celebrated, when Denis was 26 years old, while Elizabeth was 17. Denis, a poet and statesman, was known as the Rei Lavrador (English: Farmer King), because he planted a large pine forest near Leiria to prevent the soil degradation that threatened the region.

Elizabeth quietly pursued the regular religious practices of her youth and was devoted to the poor and sick. Naturally, such a life was a reproach to many around her and caused ill will in some quarters. Eventually, her prayer and patience succeeded in converting her husband, who had been leading a sinful life.

Elizabeth took an active interest in Portuguese politics and was a decisive conciliator during the negotiations concerning the Treaty of Alcañices, signed by Denis and Sancho IV of Castile in 1297 (which fixed the borders between the two countries). In 1304, the Queen and Denis returned to Spain to arbitrate between Fernando IV of Castile and James II of Aragon, brother of Elizabeth.^[4]

She had two children: Constance, who married King Ferdinand IV of Castile and Afonso, who became King Alfoso IV of Portugal.

Elizabeth would serve as intermediary between her husband and Afonso, during the Civil War between 1322 and 1324. The Infante greatly resented the king, whom he accused of favoring the king’s illegitimate son, Afonso Sanches. Repulsed to Alenquer, which supported the Infante, Denis was prevented from killing his son through the intervention of the Queen. As legend holds, in 1323, Elizabeth, mounted on a mule, positioned herself between both opposing armies on the field of Alvalade in order to prevent the combat. Peace returned in 1324, once the illegitimate son was sent into exile, and the Infante swore loyalty to the king.

It was after her husband’s death, she discovered Wenceslaus’ secret, who had come to pay his respects.  They had met a few times over the years, both enjoying their discussion on faith and devotion.

He told her about Vampires and what it was like to live the life of a ‘Saint’.  She thought about his story, and adored his Mate Cinderella.  She prayed and soon knew her answer.

Integridad: Hunter

(Continuing our theme of ‘Saved from the Brink’)

Alejandro stood on his own, and sent Diego back to Integridad Kin Clan where he was needed, and he continued his role as Zorro, taking the name Don Diego de la Vega Sánchez, a mix of his adopted father, along with his mother’s sir name, the only thing he remembered of her.

Always a man of passion, he fell for the Governor’s daughter Elena Montero, soon stealing her away from him. The Governor and Elena’s future husband set out to bring her back and destroy Diego. In the ensuing fight, Elena was mortally wounded and Diego’s Hacienda was destroyed, but he was able to save Elena by taking her down into the basement where he trained. After seeking her permission to save her, she gave her consent and Diego Turned her.

Elena stayed with him for a while, before heading to Spain to train with the Diego senior.

A few years later he met Timothy Quinn. The friendship between the two developed into a decades-long love affair that lasted until Timothy’s Childe Bryon Hanson was killed in New York. The two remained close friends.

Diego settled into New Orleans, taking the position as Head of Security for Nicolaus Valerius Meridius. He enjoyed living in New Orleans and serving on the City Council.

While traveling to meet up with Hunters James Hickok and Noah Dixon, he found himself resting in a small town. It wasn’t hard for him to figure out the citizens were scared of something. His old instincts kicked in, and he found himself in the middle of a Range War. While Hunting down one group he came upon the Doctor’s house, finding Gregory House laying on the floor bleeding out. The irony was he was cursing Diego’s old lover. He gave the doctor a new opportunity, which he took. Diego wasn’t sure if he regretted that decision or not.

He always made sure his two kids were safe and secure, and when House telegraphed him about finding his Mate on the front lines, Diego telegraphed back to Claim them. He never wanted to see his Childe go through what he witnessed with Bryon and Riddick.  OrTimothy during the Civil War.

He was happy for Timothy when he came to the Manor with his new Mate Horatio Caine, and did everything in his power to protect his Family, his friends, and his Clan.  He really wasn’t too surprised that one of Speed’s co-workers was his Mate; fate seemed to love or hate him, he was never sure which.

During the battle with Richelieu, Diego was severely wounded.

He requested from Nico that he take time off and travel back to Spain to recoup, handing over his job as Head of Security to Horatio Caine.  Nico granted his request and made sure he knew his family and home would be waiting for him.

When he had heard about Nick’s kidnapping he sent word to him, sending his condolences over Aubrey and to apologize for not being there.  Nico told him to watch over Brigid Maturin, as she had lost her father.

Diego felt his failure deeply when Brigid was killed in a crowded street.  He stayed in Spain, constantly being told he was hiding.  It wasn’t until after the Colosseum Incident that he was ready to contact Nico about returning as a Hunter.  He was surprised when Calleigh showed up at his door, wearing nothing but a smile and high heels – giving him one last time to take what was his.

He wasn’t that stupid.

Diego has been training Calleigh to be a Hunter, and she excels at it.