While on their way toFlanders, Ferdinand and Joan were captured by Joan's first cousinLouis, eldest son ofPhilip II of France and Joan's auntIsabella. Louis' aim was to acquire his dead mother's dowry, a large piece of Flemish territory includingArtois, which Joan's father had taken back by force after Isabella's death.
Released after this concession, Joan and Ferdinand soon joined the old allies of her father, KingJohn of England and EmperorOtto IV, in an alliance against France. They were decisively defeated atBouvines in July 1214, where Ferdinand was taken prisoner.[1]
Ferdinand was to remain in French hands for the next 12 years, while Joan ruled alone. He was released in 1226, by the Frenchregent,Blanche of Castile, after the accession of her sonLouis IX of France.[2]
Ferdinand died inNoyon on 27 July 1233.[3] His and Joan's only child, a daughter named Maria, died childless, and their counties eventually passed to Joan's younger sister,Margaret II.
* also an infante of Castile and León, Aragon, Sicily and Naples,§also an infante of Spain and an archduke of Austria,#also an infante of Spain,‡also an imperial prince of Brazil,¶also a prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke in Saxony,◙also a prince of Braganza,¤title removed in 1920 as their parents' marriage was deemed undynastic,ƒclaimant infante
