ALPHONSO X  ., El Sabio, or the learned (1252–1284), is perhaps the most interesting, though he was far from being the most capable, of the Spanish kings of the middle ages . (His merits as a writer are dealt with in the article SPAIN: Literature) . His scientific fame is based mainly on his encouragement of astronomy . It may be pointed out, however, that the story which represents him as boasting of his ability to make a better world than this is of late authority . If he said so, he was speaking of the Ptolemaic cosmogony as known to him through the Arabs, and his vaunt was a humorous proof of his scientific instinct . As a ruler he showed legislative capacity, and a very commendable wish to provide his kingdoms with a code of laws and a consistent judicial system . The Fuero Real was undoubtedly his work, and he began the code called the Siete Partidas, which, however, was only promulgated by his great-grandson . Unhappily for himself and for Spain, he wanted the singleness of purpose required by a ruler who would devote himself to organization, and also the combination of firmness with temper needed for dealing with his nobles . His descent from the Hohenstaufen through his mother, a daughter of the emperor Philip, gave him claims to represent the Swabian line . The choice of the German electors, after the death of Conrad IV. in 1254, misled him into wild schemes which never took effect but caused immense expense . To obtain money he debased the coinage, and then endeavoured to prevent a rise in prices by an arbitrary tariff . The little trade of his dominions was ruined,. and the burghers and peasants were deeply offended .

His nobles, whom he tried to cow by sporadic acts of violence, rebelled against him . His second son, Sancho, enforced his claim to be

heir, in preference to the children of Ferdinand de la Cerda, the elder brother who died in Alphonso's life . ' Son and nobles alike supported the Moors, when he tried to unite the nation in a crusade; and when he allied himself with the rulers of Morocco they denounced him as an enemy of the faith . A reaction in his favour was beginning in his later days, but he died defeated and deserted at Seville, leaving a will by which he endeavoured to exclude Sancho and a heritage of civil war .