de la Cerda

The House of la Cerda was the senior cadet line of the Castilian House of Burgundy, founded by Ferdinand de la Cerda, eldest son of Alfonso X. His nickname came from the tuft of hair, a cerda or bristle, on his chest.

Ferdinand died in 1275, and Alfonso X named Ferdinand's son Alfonso heir ahead of Ferdinand's brother Sancho. Sancho revolted and took the crown; the arbitration of Torrellas in 1304 barred Alfonso and his descendants from the throne.

In France, Luis de la Cerda was granted the Canary Islands as Prince of Fortuna by the pope in 1344. His kinsman Charles became Constable of France, but was murdered in 1354 by men of Charles II of Navarre. In Castile its heiress Isabel married the first Count of Medinaceli, and through her the house became the stem of the Dukes of Medinaceli.