Alfonso the Wise (Sp. Alfonso X, El Sabio, 1221-84) was king of León and Castile from 1252 until his death, and played an important role in preserving the Arab culture and scientific achievements of al-Andalus for Christian Spain and Europe. His father, Ferdinand III, had conquered most of al-Andalus, leaving Alfonso the task of consolidating a Christian Spanish state. In doing so, Alfonso not only commissioned histories and law codes, he also sponsored translations of important works from Arabic into Castilian, including the fables of Khalīla wa-