European Ancestry of an American Family Basura A Spanish Heritage: Our European cousins

A Spanish Heritage: Our European cousins.

European Ancestry of an American Family

Basura

JOHN PIERRE BIDDLE WARDEN[Company name]

[Company address]


CHAPTERS

1. Pedro I, Duke de Cantabria is your 39th great grandfather. 2. Fruela, Duke de Cantabria is your 38th great grandfather.3. Vermudo I el Diácono, King de Asturias is your 37th great grandfather.4. Ramiro I, King de Asturias is your 36th great grandfather.5. Ordoño I, rey de Asturias is your 35th great grandfather.6. Alfonso III el Magno, rey de Asturias, is your 34th great grandfather.7. Ordoño II, rey de León is your 33rd great grandfather8. Ramiro II el Grande, rey de León, is your 32nd great grandfather.9. Ordoño III, rey de León, is your 31st great grandfather.10. Bermudo II el Gotoso, rey de León, is your 30th great grandfather.11. Alfonso V el Noble, rey de León, is your 29th great grandfather.12. Sancha I, reina de León is your 28th great grandmother. 13. Bello, comte de Carcassonne is your 37th great grandfather-House de Barcelona 14. Sunifred I, IV Count De’Urgell is your 36th great grandfather. 15. Guiro I el Pilós, XI Count de Barcelona is your 35th great grandfather16. Sunyer I, XIII Count de Barcelona is your 34th great grandfather.17. Borrell II, XIV Count de Barcelona is your 31st great grandfather.18. Ramon Borrell I, XVI Count de Barcelona is your 32nd great grandfather.19. Berenguer Ramon I el Corbat; XVII Count de Barcelona is your 31st great grandfather.20. Ramon Berenguer I el Vell; Count de Barcelona is your 30th great grandfather.21. Ramon Berenguer II Cap d'Estopes, Comte de Barcelona is your 29th great grandfather.22. Alfonso V el Noble, rey de León is your 29th great grandfather23. Alfonso VI el Bravo, rey de León y de Castilla, is your 27th great grandfather.24. Urraca I, reina de Castilla y León is your 26th great grandmother.25. Fernando II, rey de León, is your 23rd great grandfather.26. Alfonso VII el Emperador, rey de Castilla y León, is your 25th great grandfather.27. Ferdinand I “The Great” EMPEROR DE SPAIN- King de Castile and Leon

28. Alfonso IX el Baboso, rey de León y Galicia, is your 10th great grandmother's husband's 12th

great grandfather.

29. Campeador Rodrigo Diaz DE VIVAR “EL CID”- Prince de Valencia and Family

30. García VI el Restaurador, KING DE NAVARRA and Family

31. Alfonso VII the Emperor, King de Castile and León

1

http://www.geni.com/people/Borrell-II-XIV-comte-de-Barcelona/5555982345640054073?through=6000000001744871756


32. King Alfonso VIII “ THE NOBLE”, KING DE CASTILE

33. Alfonso IX el Baboso, rey de León y Galicia is your 22 great grandfather

34. Berenguela I la Grande, reina de Castilla, is your 22nd great grandmother.

35. Jean de Brienne, King de Jerusalem is your 24th great grandfather.

36. Berenguela Princess de León, Empress consort de Constantinopla

37. Berenguela I “THE GRAND”, QUEEN DE CASTILE

38. Fernando III “ THE SAINT”, KING DE CASTILE

39. Eleanor de Castile, PRINCESS DE CASTILE, QUEEN CONSORT DE ENGLAND

40. Blanche Bourgogne de Castile PRINCESS DE CASTILE And QUEEN CONSORT DE FRANCE.

Chapter OneFernando I El Magno

In Navarre Spain, the birth of Sancho III Garcés is sometimes around "992

and dies 18 October 1035 Cathedral of Pamplona. "1 This Man was able

politically to outmaneuver his opponents and militarily defeat them in

battle.2 Many calls Sancho “the Great” (Spanish: el Mayor, Basque:

Nagusia). He acquired the Kingdom of Navarra through a royal blood line

in 1004. Through conquest and political maneuvering, the King, increases

his power. Sancho stabilizes the Christian Empire until the time of his

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancho_III_of_Navarre

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garc%C3%ADa_S%C3%A1nchez_III_of_Navarre

2


death in 1035. Bearing the title of Rex Hispaniarum, he firmly controls a

majority of Christian Iberia. Having gone further than any of his

antecedents in uniting the divided kingdoms of Iberia, he leaves a relatively

stable empire at the time of his demise. His judgment becomes

questionable in the area of succession to the crown. For the unity that he

has so admirably performed shatters in

a brief moment of decision making. The

achievement of a lifetime implodes when

he divides his domains to provide for his

progeny. The Kingdom of Navarre

continues for six centuries after his

death, but never reaches the heights of

power as achieved under Sancho “the

Great.”

It is the unfortunate practice of this historical time to dispute the line of

succession to every crown. The basic argument in this case is where

Fernando place is in the birth of King Sancho's four sons. According to the

most legitimate charters, He is the younger son bears probably later than

1011, about the time his parents' marriage happens. It names Sancho's

male children in this order: Ramiro, García, Gonzalo, and then Fernando.

Another scholar reiterates that there are three other records from the

Cathedral of Pamplona that list them in this Cathedral of Pamplona same

way, [three] There are furthermore four more records from the monastery

of San Juan of la Peña that states the same. One last charter from

Pamplona, dated 29 September 1023, validates by Sancho's mother,

3


Jimena Fernandez, and his wife Mayor, her children, lists as García,

Fernando then Gonzalo, and their brother, the illegitimate Ramiro.3

In San Salvador, Spain de Leire scholars finds “In five documents de

the monastery ….Fernando lists after Gonzalo. [Six] “Two of these

documents confirms to 17 April 1014. If authentic, they place Fernando's

birth before that date.”[Seven] Other documents from the same sources

show: “Three additional documents from Leire are only ones to set

Fernando second in the order of succession. They suffer, however, from

different anachronisms and interpolations.” [Eight] It is amazing that so

many documents all reach different conclusions. From this writer's

perspective, it does not matter historically what the birth order was: what

matters is the outcome of individual actions on the events of the period

Banished Castilian noblemen murder Garcia Sanchez as he is

entering the church of John the Baptist in León. The King has gone to the

Church where he is scheduled to marry Sancha, sister, of the King of León.

After the slaying of Garcia Sanchez and as a young person; Fernando

experiences the violent atmosphere of Christian Spain. During this chaotic

time, Fernando becomes the Count de Castile. Sancho III de Navarre

designates for election his younger son Fernando, born to the deceased

count's sister Mayor, as the count of Castile. The Committee recognizes

Sancho as the ruler of Castile until his death. After his death, the

Committee issues the title of Count to Fernando. On 7 July 1029, before

the council in Burgos, Óneca, adopts Sancho and Mayor, making them her

heirs. A later charter dated 1 January 1030, explicitly lists Sancho as in

León (the overlord of Castile) and Fernando as count in Castile. [12] The

first indication that Fernando was independently reigning, de facto, over

3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramiro_S%C3%A1nchez,_Lord_of_Monz%C3%B3n

4


Castile is a charter of the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza. Castile

stability is achieved by Sancho's decision to make his son the Count de

Castile. Documents indicate that no Castilian document after 1028

indicates that the only monarch mentioned is Sancho III. Fernando is the

first count de Castile not who does not pay homage king de León.

A Counsel appoints Fernando the Count de Castile4 when his uncle

dies in 1029. He then became the King de León after defeating his brother-

in-law in 1037. Vermudo III died on the battlefield at the battle of Tameron.

Again the ambitions of his other brother, Garcia III, silences when

Ferdinand’s troops leave him dead on the battlefield. Fernando was the first

to place on his head the emperor's tiara. Consequently, his heirs followed

this practice. As a younger son of Sancho III de Navarre and Mayor de

Castile, he recognized the suzerain of his eldest brother, García Sánchez

III of Navarre. As the Leonese declined in power, Ferdinand begins the

rule of the Jiménez dynasty5 over western Spain. This rise to dominance

among Christian rulers of Iberia shifted the state of power westward. He

has the largest Christian nation ever developed in Spain before his death.

His death came 24 December 1065.

In San Salvador de Leire scholars find “In five documents of the

monastery ….the document lists Fernando after Gonzalo.6“Two of these

documents date to 17 April 1014. If authentic, they place Fernando's birth

4 “… granted the title "count" (comes)…” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_I_of_Le%C3%B3n_and_Castile

5 http://www.encyclo.co.uk/define/Jim%C3%A9nez%20dynasty

6 Martínez Díez 2007, 152. They report 21 October 1022, 26 December 1032, and 1033, found in Ángel J. Martín Duque,

Documentación medieval de Leire (siglos IX an XII) (Pamplona: 1983), docs. 20, 23, 24.

5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_I_of_Le%C3%B3n_and_Castile


before that date.”7 Other documents from the same source shows: “Three

further documents from Leire are the only ones to set Fernando second

among the legitimate sons, but they suffer from many anachronisms and

interpolations.” 8From another secondary source the scholar’s state: “Two

documented preserves states Gonzalo ahead of him in birth order."9 A

reading of this source prompted the scholar, “Gonzalo Martínez Díez [to]

place Fernando the third state of birth order. Lastly, the scholar Martinez

Diez lists García, Fernando and Gonzalo as Sancho's sons by Mayor in

that order. However, a reading of the same source mistakenly places

Gonzalo's death before his father's...”10 Frankly, it must be noted that as

important as these debates are among scholars they seem trivial.

Comparison with the fact that Sancho son, Ferdinando, makes the same

mistake as did their father. The argument of birth order still does nothing for

handling the all-important problem of succession.

In 1032, the intended bride for Garcia de Castile married Fernando.

Princess Sancha brings property to Castile. Her dowry is the lands between

the CEA and Pisuerga rivers. After his father's death, Fernando continues

ruling Castile as a Count. Contemporary documents stress Fernando's

status as nobility and subordinate to the King de Leon's vassalage. A 7 Martínez Díez 2007, 152. They read: Domina Maior Regina confirmat. Ranimirus proles Regis confirmat. Garseanus frater eius

confirmat. Gundisaluss frater eius confirmat. Fernandous frater eius confirmat. In Martín Duque 1983, docs. 15–16.

8 Martínez Díez 2007, 152–53. They are both dated 1024, one to 17 May, and finds in José María Lacarra, Colección diplomática de

Irache I, (958–1222) (Zaragoza: 1965), docs. 2, 4.

9 Martínez Díez 2007, 152–53. They are both dated 1024, one to 17 May, and finds in José María Lacarra, Colección diplomática de

Irache I, (958–1222) (Zaragoza: 1965), docs. 2, 4.

10 Martínez Díez 2007, 84.

6


document issues by his brother states in part "emperor Vermudo” reigns in

León and count Fernando governs in Castile. King Ramiro in Aragon. King

García in Pamplona and king Gonzalo reigns in Ribagorza." 11In January

1037, two private Castilian documents both express Fernando's continuing

vassalage to the Leonese monarchy. In a dispute over the area between

the Cea and Pisuerga, Fernando, war wages and Fernando slays Bermudo

defeated and killed his suzerain at the Battle of Tamarón in 1037.

Fernando then claims possession of León. His wife has succession rights

in Leon. On 22 June 1038 Fernando has himself crowned and anointed

king in León.

Fernando wages war and defeats his brother García at the Battle of

Atapuerca. He thereby reduces Navarre to a subject county. He places

his brother’s son, Sancho, under his reign. Therefore, Navarre is indirectly

ruled by him. With his late brother’s son in command at Navarre,

Fernando demands only the city of Bureba to be included in Castile. Over

the next ten years he controls more of the western area de Navarre at the

expense of Sancho IV and accomplishes this without further bloodshed.

The people of the Al Andalus are an assorted mixture. Indeed the

Arab elite are a vast minority of those people and, therefore, are not

responsible for the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. These Arabs have

intermarried with the indigenous Iberians and thus have assimilated by

them. In terms of sheer numbers, the Berber's account for the conquests

and the Jewish people also are widely influential. The offspring of African

and European slaves during this time has been integrated into that society.

11

7


In the 11th century, these peoples have amalgamated into the new

Andalusian people.

In 1060, Fernando invaded the taifa of Zaragoza. He attacks

through the upland valley of the Duero. Berlanga, San Esteban de Gormaz,

and Vadorrey fall to El Magno. He gets as close to Zaragoza as an old

road that connects Zaragoza to Toledo. [18] The success of the attack is

possible because the Emir was flanked on all sides of his border. The emir

was already making tribute to Sancho IV of Navarre. Seeing how close

Fernando’s armies had come to Zaragoza the Emir agreed also to ...

Fernando. The tribute lasted until Fernando’s death. [18]

With al-Muqtadir sidelined as a threat, Fernando now turns the mass

of his army toward Toledo. Emir Yahya ibn Ismail al-Mamun seeing

impending doom and seeing his countryside ravaged waits. Fernando

takes Talamanca and Alcalá de Henares are taken. Seeing his country

plundered, al-Mamun agrees to pay tribute. Fernando upon payment

leaves the area. [19]

In 1063, using the new income from his parias, Fernando organised a

"great raid, or razzia" into the taifas de Seville and Badajoz. Seville, and

probably Badajoz also, paid a ransom for his withdrawal. This attack was

probably also designed to remove Badajoz as a threat during his siege of

Coimbra the next year. [19]

In 1055, Fernando, attacked the taifa of Badajoz. His first serious

campaign of Reconquista was an invasion of the lower basin of the Duero.

He invades between the coast, which had long been held by León, and the

8


mountains. On 29 November 1057, his army conquered Lamego and its

valleys.[17] Having secured the Duero, Fernando began to bring the valley

of the Mondego under his control, first taking Viseu in its middle stretch on

25 July 1058 and then moving down towards the sea. It is "a long and

grueling battle" before Coimbra at the mouth of the Mondego. After a six-

month siege, the city succumbs on July 25.

In 1065, Fernando embarked on his last military campaign. He

invaded the taifa of Valencia and got as far as the vicinity of the city itself,

where he defeated the emir Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar late in the autumn.

The emir's father-in-law, al-Mamun of Toledo, seized control de Valencia,

and the frightened emir of Zaragoza renewed his tribute payments to León.

Fernando fell ill in November and returned to his kingdom. [19]

Fernando titles "emperor,” derives not from himself or his own

scribes, but by the notaries of his half-brother, the petty king Ramiro I de

Aragon, whose notaries were also calling Fernando's predecessor as king

de León by the same title. In a royal Aragonese charter of 1036, before the

Battle of Tamarón, Ramiro refers to his brother as "emperor in Castile and

León and Astorga".[20] A similarly-worded charter issues in 1041 and again

in 1061, where the order of kingdoms reverses and Astorga ignored:

"emperor in León and Castile".[21] The first use of the imperial style dates

to the year 1056: "under the rule of the emperor King Fernando and the

Empress Queen Sancha ruling the kingdom in León and Galicia as well as

in Castile."[22] On this basis, Fernando crowned himself emperor in 1056.

Use of the imperial title occurs one other time during Fernando's reign. A

9


document of 1058 dates itself "in the time of the most serene prince Lord

Fernando and his consort Queen Sancha" and later qualifies him as "this

emperor, the aforesaid Fernando".[23]

After becoming ill during at Siege of Valencia and the Battle de

Paterna, Fernando dies on 24 December 1065, in León. [24] He displays

many manifestations of piety. He lays his crown and royal mantle to one

side. Dressing in the robe of a monk, Fernando lays on a bier. The platform

covered with ashes attests to the devotion of his Catholicism. The

structure is before the altar of the Basilica. [25] By his will, Fernando

divides his kingdom among his three sons: the eldest, Sancho, receives

Castile; the second, Alfonso, León; and from the latter parts of the region of

Galicia carve off to create a separate state for García. Fernando's two

daughters each receives cities: Elvira gains the city of Toro and Urraca

adds Zamora. In giving his children these territories, he expresses his

desire that they respect his wishes and abide by the split. However, soon

after Fernando's death, Sancho and Alfonso turned on García and

defeated him. They then fought each other, the victorious Sancho reuniting

their father's possessions under his control in 1072. However, Sancho dies

that same year, and the territories passed to Alfonso VI.

The Chronicon complutense, probably written soon after Fernando's

death, extols him as the "exceedingly strong emperor" (imperator

fortissimus) when mentioning the siege de Coimbra. [26] After his death,

Fernando's children took to call him "emperor" and "the great" (magnus). In

10


1072, Alfonso, Fedinand's second son, referred to himself as "offspring of

the Emperor Fernando".[27] Two years later (1074), Urraca and Elvira

referred to themselves as "daughters of the Emperor Fernando the Great

[or, the great emperor Fernando]".[28] In a later charter of 1087, Fernando

to first as "", then as "great emperor", and finally here appears "emperor"

alongside his consort, is "queen" then "empress".[29]

In the fourteenth century, a legend appeared in many chronicles

according to which the Pope, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the King of

France demanded a tribute from Fernando. In certain versions of the event,

the Pope is Urban. [30] Fernando prepared to pay, but one of his vassals,

later known as El Cid, declares war on the Pope, the Emperor and the

Frank. As a result of this action, the later rescinded their demand. For this

reason "Don Fernando is, afterward, called ‘the Great’: the peer of an

emperor." [31] In the sixteenth century, this account re-appeared, extended

and elaborated, in Juan de Mariana, who wrote that in 1055, at a synod in

Florence, the Emperor Henry III urged Victor II to prohibit under severe

penalties the use of the imperial title by Fernando de León. [32]

This story appears to be mythical. Some modern authors have

accepted it as a basic truth or seen a kernel of historical truth in it. Spanish

historian A. Ballesteros argues that Fernando adopts the title in opposition

to the Holy Roman Emperor's imperial pretensions. [33] German historian

E. E. Stengel believes the version found in Mariana. He interprets the now

lost acts of the Council of Florence as his reference. [34] A scholar , Juan

Beneyto Pérez , was willing to accept it as based on tradition and Ernst

Steindorff, the nineteenth-century student of the reign de Henry III, says

11


that he basis his view via the Romancero. [35] Menéndez Pidal, noted

Hispanic scholar, accepted the account of Mariana but places it in the year

1065. [36]

Lineage

1. Reilly 1988, 7–8.

2. Martínez Díez 2007, 151–53.

15. Martínez Díez 2007, 182: regnante imperator Veremundo in Leione ET comite

Fredinando in Castella ET Rex Garsea in Pampilonia ET rex Ranimirus in Aragone ET rex

Gundisalbus in Ripacorça.

16. In the first Rodrigo Téllez, on the occasion of his entering the monastery of San Pedro

de Arlanza, donated his inheritance in Jaramillo to the monastery (Martínez Díez 2007, 182:

Rex Vermudo ET Fredinando comes in regnis Suis). The second issue by Fernando's great

aunt, the AbbessUrraca de Covarrubias, and reads: Facta carta conparationis die sabbato,

ipsas kalnedas januarias, era TLXXVa, Rex Virimudo ET Frenando comes in regnis Suis

(Martínez Díez 2007, 182).

17. Reilly 1988, 9–10.

18. Reilly 1988, 10–11.

19. Reilly 1988, 11–12.

20. García Gallo 1945, 226 n. 70: Regnante me Ranimiro ... ET Fredelandus imperator in

Castella ET in Leione ET in Astorga ("me, Ramiro, reigning ... and Fernando, emperor in Castile

and León and Astorga").

21. This later, from García Gallo 1945, 226 n. 71, reads "King Ramiro reigning in Aragon ...

Fernando, emperor in León and Castile" (Regnante Ramiro rege in Aragonie ... Fredelandus

imperator in Leione ET in Castella).

12


22. García Gallo 1945, 213 and 226 n. 72: sub imperio imperator is Fredinandi Regis ET

Sancie regine, imperatrice regnum regentes in Legione ET in Gallecia vel in Castella.

23. García Gallo 1945, 213 226 n. 72: in tempore serenissimi principis domni Fredinandi ET

ejus conjugis Sanciae reginae perrexerunt ipsum imperatorem Fredenandum.

24. Some sources give the feast of John the Baptist, 24 June, as the date of his death.

25. Reilly 1988, 13.

26. García Gallo 1945, 213 and 226 n. 74, partially quotes the Chronicon′s entry: Rex

Fernandous cum coniuge eius Sancia Regina, imperator fortissimus, and simul cum Sui’s

episcopis ... obsedit civitatem Colimbriam ("King Fernando with his consort Queen Sancha, the

exceedingly strong emperor, likewise with his bishops ... besieged the city of Coimbra").

27. García Gallo 1045, 226 n. 73: Ego Adefonsus Regis, prolis Fredinandi ymperatoris.

28. Ego Urraka ET Giluira, Fredinandi imperatoris magni filie (García Gallo 1045, 226 n. 73).

29. García Gallo 1045, 226 n. 73: "I, Urraca, daughter of King Fernando ... to the reigning

Emperor Alfonso son of Emperor Fernando the Great and Queen Sancha ... I, Urraca, daughter

of that the king and emperor Fernando and Empress Sancha" (Ego Urraca prolis Fredinandi

regis ... Adefonso imperatore regnante Ferdenandi magni imperatores et Sancie regine filio ...

Ego Urraca filia ejusdem regis et imperatoris Federnandi et Sancie imperatricis).

30. García Gallo 1945, 213–14. The most likely king of France is Henry I, though Philip I

also fit. The Emperor would have been Henry III, or possibly his father, Conrad II.

31. García Gallo 1945, 214: fué llamado Don Fernando el Magno: el par de emperador.

32. García Gallo 1945, 214, citing Menéndez Pidal 1929, I, 137–38, and López Ortiz 1942,

43–46.

33. In Revista de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos, 40 (1919): 473, cited in García Gallo

1945, 226 n. 78.

34. Kaisertitel und Souveränitätsidee: Studien zur Vorgeschichte des modernen

Staatsbegrifts (Weimar: 1939), 7–8, 11–13, 15–16, and 23, cited in García Gallo 1945, 226 n.

78.

35. España y el problema de Europa: contribución a la historia de la idea de imperio

(Madrid: 1942), 46–48, cited in García Gallo 1945, 226 n. 78; Steindorff 1881, 484ff.

36. He further suggested that the Spanish response against Rome encouraged a later

Castilian nationalist reaction against the Spanish "empire", cf. García Gallo 1945, 214, citing

Menéndez Pidal 1929, I, 138 and 256–64, who completely rejects this thesis.

13


Coat of Arms

Ferdinand I

Symbols: courtesy of Wikipedia.com

It is a belief that the origins of the Jimenez dynasty lay in Gascony

according to the Códice de Roda- is a medieval manuscript, which

represents a different source for details of the 9th century Kingdom de

14

The lion design is attributed to Alfonso VII de

Leon (1105-1157) King de Castile-Leon (1126).

The castle symbol is accredited to his grandson

Alfonso VIII de Castile (1155-1214) King de

Castile (1158) and Toledo. However, it was

Ferdinand III de Castile (1199-1252) King de

Castile (1217) and Leon (1230) who, when he

united both kingdoms, quartered the coat de

arms and joined both symbols.


Navarre and neighboring principalities.i The Chronicon Complutense

alcobacense ("Complutensian Chronicle, that is, [from a manuscript] of

Alcalá de Henares [ancient Complutum]") is a short Medieval Latin history.

It is in the form of annals, of events in Galicia and Portugal up to the death

of Ferdinand I "the Great."

http://www.babylon.com/definition/Chronicon_complutense/Englishhom the

anonymous chronicler lauds as one "exceedingly strong emperor"

(imperator fortissimo), in 1065.

http://www.babylon.com/definition/ Chronicon_complutense /English

[Accessed February 13, 2014]

15

http://www.babylon.com/definition/Chronicon_complutense/English


CHAPTER TWO:

ALFONSO AND SPAIN! - RODRIGO

DE VIVAR AND FAMILY

A Replica of the Shield of Rodrigo de Vivar

Statue of El Cid in Balboa Park, San Diego California.

16


British Author Southey compiled and scripted, from the Cronica

General de Espana, events about the life and times of Rodrigo el Cid

Campeador Díaz de Vivar. Rodrigo is better known to history as “El Cid."

This basic historical rendition written in 1808 is full of El Cid’s historical

events. Southey has gathered and transcribed events that happened

between the years 1252 A.D. and 1284 A.D. It writes some 200 years after

the demise of “El Cid” and from the administration of Alfonso the Wise. This

writer has modified Robert Southey’s account of the Crónica General de

España. So by consulting portions de the Cantar de Mio Cid this writer is

rendering his own interpretation based from these accounts.

Alfonso the Wise writes the Cronica General de Espana during his

reign. He is knowledgeable in the studies of his time, Alfonso is also a

troubadour. These combinations enhance Alfonso's artistic endeavor.

Alfonso reigned between the years 1252 and 1284, and the King writes this

Chronicle himself, or administrators under his immediate direction continue

writing the events. Crónica General de España is the most ancient of the

Prose Chronicles of Spain. It is the source of the adventures of El Cid. The

Cronica de Espana describes Rodrigo's escapades and tells in this

secondary source a history of the life and times of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar.

Robert Southey —was already known as the author of "Thalaba,"

published in 1802, and of "Madoc," published in 1805—He produced and

published this "Chronicle de the Cid” in 1808.

The Chronicle tells its readers that Rodrigo de Bivar is well trained in

the military arts and that he had earned the respect of the people. He bore

17


the responsibility to protect the land from the Moors. Rodrigo was so skilled

in military matters that he never lost a battle. Although, many of his

enemies were Moors, Rodrigo also befriended many of these same people.

He had also made enemies among his own. It was for these reasons that

Rodrigo earned the epitaph of “leader and champion” or in Arabic “El Cid."

Before “El Cid’s” birth, the country was without a king. Therefore, the

people met and chose two judges, of whom the one is Nuño Rasuera, and

the other Layn Calvo. Layn married Nuño's daughter, Elvira Nuñez uniting

the two families in blood relationships. From Nuño Rasuera King Don

Fernando descended.

In 1026, Rodrigo came from solid noble lineage. He is born in the

city of Burgos, and in the street of St. Martin in the neighborhood of the

palace of the Counts de Castille. Layn Calvo was Rodrigo’s grandfather.

His father was Diego Laynez. His mother is Dona Teresa Rodriguez, the

daughter of Don Rodrigo Alvarez the Count de Asturias.

During this time, an argument ensued between Count Don Gomez

the Lord de Gormaz, and Diego Laynez- Rodrigo’s father. The Count

insulted Diego and gave him a slap across the face with his glove—the

highest of insults during the middle Ages. Diego was a man of

considerable years, and his health had long since passed. It is obvious

that he could not take any physical vengeance to protect himself, and so

disgraced he retired from the castle to his home. Here he is to stay alone

and deliberate about his dishonor.

He could not eat, or sleep, he sat staring downward. He did not leave

his house, or see his friends. As if the venom of his shame would pollute

18


them, he turned from them in silence. Indeed the height of his depression

debilitated his usually cheerful presence.

Rodrigo was young, and the Count Don Gomez the Lord de Gormaz,

was a mighty man in arms, one who gave his voice first in the Cortes. The

Count is the best warrior in all of Spain. So powerful was he that he had

thousands of friends spread throughout the mountains. Rodrigo, however,

is oblivious to these things when he thought of the insults hurled at his

father and the devastating depression that it caused. It was the first -and

Rodrigo vowed- it would be the last which would be extended to the blood

of Layn Calvo. El Cid lives in the court of King Fernando I, and he lived in

the household of the King's eldest son, who was to be the future King,

Sancho II.

Rodrigo asked nothing of Heaven but justice. Oman, he asked only

for a fair arena, and his father seeing that his son was pure of heart gave to

him, his sword and his blessing. Now he is no longer bearing the

responsibility of protecting the Calvo name. From the bullying, the power of

his physical body lies dormant before him, yet more importantly Count Don

Gomez's actions crush Layn’s soul. In his father’s presence, silently,

Rodrigo plots to avenge the name de Calvo, his anger is slow to flash and

builds until it ignites into an all-consuming fire. The sword of honor had

been the sword of Mudarra, a hero, in former times, and when Rodrigo held

its cross in his hand, he thought within himself that his arm was no weaker

than Mudarra's. Thereafter, he left his home and challenged Count Gomez

to battle. In a confrontation, Rodrigo assassinates him. He sliced off his

head with his father’s sword and carried it home. The Cid rectified the

19


insults that had so viciously destroy his father’s soul. Restored and

regenerated now is a new sense of honor effected to his father’s home.

Depressed and despondent, the old man is sitting at the table. The

food is lying before him untasted. Rodrigo returns and pointing to the head

which hung from the horse's collar, dropping blood, he asks his father to

look up. This is a medicine that will restore Layne’s appetite. The tongue

that insulted is no longer, and the hand that wronged severed I restore the

honor of the Calvo name.

Meanwhile, history relates that King Don Fernando argued with King

Don Ramiro I de Aragon over the city of Calahorra. All claimed this city as

his own; in covert pretense the King de Aragon placed it upon trial by

combat He confidently relied upon the prowess of Don Martin Gonzalez,

who was at that time held to be the finest warrior knight in all Spain. King

Don Fernando accepts the challenge and says that Rodrigo de Vivar is his

champion. Rodrigo is not then present, but he will appear. His real name is

Rodrigo or Ruy Diaz (i.e. "son of Diego"), a Castilian nobleman by birth.

In the spring of 1063, Rodrigo fought in the Battle of Graus, where

King Ferdinand's half-brother, Ramiro I de Aragon, was laying siege to the

Moorish town of Cinca, which was in Zaragozan lands. Al-Muqtadir,

accompanied by Castilian troops including El Cid, fought against the

Aragonite.

Rodrigo emerges victoriously; Ramiro I die by murder and the

Aragonites flee the field. One legend conveys that, during the conflict El Cid

killed an Aragonite knight in single combat, this earned him the honorific

title Campeador (Champion). Finally, Rodrigo did so well in facets of

20


military skill that King Fernando made him commander and chief of his

armies.

As the years passed, the Moors continued invading Castille. They

came in larger and larger numbers. Five Kings invaded with detachments

of Moors and they past near Burgos, and crossed the mountains of Oca,

and plundered Carrion, and Vilforado, and Saint Domingo de la Calzada,

and Logroño, and Najara. They carried away many captives both male and

female, and mares, and flocks of all kinds.

Rodrigo de Bivar, as commander of Fernando armies, combed the

country, and finally located the Moors in the mountains of Oca. The Cid

descended upon them and embarrassed them with his military prowess

and maneuvers. He took back all their illicit booty and took all the five Kings

prisoners.

El Cid was thankful that he was able to return the illicit plunder to the

people and to secure the safety of their borders. He said to his mother that

he did not think it a good thing to keep the Kings in captivity, but to let them

go; and so he set them free and told them to leave.

Accordingly, each returned to his own country, praising and blessing

Rodrigo for his freedom, and he or she sent him great gifts, and

immediately they sent him tribute and acknowledged themselves to be his

vassals. So El Cid now had the allegiance of five armies.

At the same time, there came before Alfonso VI, Ximena Gomez, and

the daughter of the Count that Rodrigo had slain. She is the King’s cousin,

who properly addressed the King and said, Sir I am the daughter of Count

21


Don Gomez de Gormaz, and Rodrigo de Bivar has slain the Count my

father.

I am the youngest. Sir, I come to ask a favor, that will give me

Rodrigo de Bivar to be my husband, and I am greatly honored; for I am

sure that he will have more fame and wealth than any man in your

dominions. Since Rodrigo has murdered my father, therefore; I am seeking

his protection. In exchange for that protection, I vow to forgive Rodrigo a

good marriage and be a good and faithful wife.

When the King thought it an appropriate time, he spoke to Rodrigo

and said that Doña Ximena Gomez, the daughter of the Count that is slain,

had come to ask me to make Rodrigo her husband. She would forgive her

father's death; Alfonso requested him to think it a good thing to take her to

be his wife, in which case Alfonso would show Rodrigo great favor.

So Rodrigo left the King and took his spouse with him to the house of

his mother. He gave her to his mother's protection. In the presence of his

mother, he took Ximena's hand and made a vow. He proclaimed that he

would never go anywhere until he had won five battles in the field. He

explained that these battles were necessary for the protection and security

of the realm.

When King Ferdinand I died, Sancho II, with the aid of Rodrigo

continued to enlarge his territory, Rodrigo conquered both Christian cities

and the Moorish cities of Zamora and Badajoz. When Sancho learned that

Alfonso was planning on overthrowing him in order to gain his city, Sancho

sent El Cid to bring Alfonso back so that Sancho could speak to him. In the

Cid’s absence, Sancho was assassinated in 1072, as the result of a pact

22


between his brother Alfonso and his sister Urraca. Since Sancho died

unmarried and childless, all of his power passed to his brother Alfonso.

Under Sancho II, son de Ferdinand, Rodrigo served as commander

of the royal troops. In a war between the two brothers, Sancho II and

Alfonso VI de Leon, because of a military maneuver on the part of Rodrigo,

Sancho was victorious, and his brother was forced to seek refuge with the

Moorish King of Toledo.

As the leader of the Castilians, Alfonso never forgave the Cid for

having compelled he to swear that he, Alfonso, had no hand in the murder

of his brother. In 1072, Sancho was assassinated at the siege of Zamora,

and as he left no heir. The Castilians had to acknowledge Alfonso as King.

So he was the first person who united the areas of Castille and Leon.

Alfonso VI was the first, who was called King of both Castille and Leon.

Previous to this time the lords of Castile is called Counts.

Historically, the earliest literary treatment of El Cid's life is found in

Carmen Campidoctoris written by a Catalan partisan to celebrate El Cid's

victory over Berenguer Ramón II. The author of the Campidoctoris reports

that, as a young man in According to the epic of El Cid, Alfonso VI was

forced to say publicly that he had not participated to kill his brother. The

oath was made openly in front of Santa Gadea (Saint Agatha) Church in

Burgos on holy relics multiple times. This is generally reported as the truth

among some historians, but contemporary documents on the lives of both

Rodrigo Diaz and Alfonso VI of Castile and León do not mention any such

event. 1057, Rodrigo fought against the Moorish stronghold of

Zaragoza. His conquest made its emir, al-Muqtadir, a vassal of King

Sancho II.

23


Almost immediately, Alfonso returned

from exile in Toledo and took his seat as king

of Castile and León. He was deeply suspected

in Castile by the nobility of the realm, of

having been involved in Sancho's murder.

Rodrigo's position as armiger Regis was taken

away and given to Rodrigo's enemy, Count

Garcia Ordonez

In 1079, Rodrigo was sent by Alfonso VI

to Seville to the court of al-Mutamid to collect

the parias owed by that taifa to León–Castile.

While the Cid was in Seville Granada,

assisted by other Castilian knights, attacked

Seville, and Rodrigo and his forces repulsed

the Christian and Grenadine attackers at the

Battle de Cabra, in the mistaken belief that he

was defending the king's tributary. The Count

Garcia Ordonez and the other Castilian

leaders are taken captive by the Cid and held

for three days before being released.

In the Battle of Cabra (1079), El Cid

rallied his troops and turned the battle into a

rout of Emir Abdulallh of Granada and his ally

Garcia Ordonez. However, El Cid's

unauthorized expedition into Granada greatly

angered Alfonso and on May 8, 1080, El Cid

24

According to the epic de El Cid, Alfonso VI

was forced to say publicly that he had not participated to kill his

brother. The oath was made openly in front de

Santa Gadea (Saint Agatha) Church in

Burgos on holy relics multiple times. This is widely reported as the

truth among some historians, but contemporary

documents on the lives de both Rodrigo Diaz

and Alfonso VI de Castile and León do not

mention any such

event.

Nonetheless, there is a 19th century painting depicting the scence.

QUESTIONING ALFONSO VI


confirmed the last document in King Alfonso's court. This is one of the

given reasons for El Cid's exile. Many other motives are plausible and may

have been contributing factors. It was thought that jealous nobles turned

Alfonso against El Cid, or Alfonso's own animosity towards El Cid, and an

accusation of pocketing some of the monies from Seville.

At first he went to Barcelona, where Ramón Berenguer II (1076–

1082) and Berenguer Ramón II (1076–1097) refused his defer of service.

Then he journeyed to the Taifa of Zaragoza where he received a warmer

welcome. Alfonso never forgave Rodrigo for having, as of the Castilians,

compelled him to swear that he had no hand in the murder of his brother.

Alfonso did, though, as a conciliatory measure, gives his cousin Ximena,

daughter of the Count of Oviedo, to the Cid in marriage. There afterward, in

1081, when he found himself firmly entrenched on the throne, and

encouraged by Leonese nobles Alfonso struck back. Rodrigo’ enemies

unjustly accuse him of stealing money, they said he is embezzling funds

from the royal treasury. Alfonso VI yielded to his own feelings of

resentment—and he banished Rodrigo from the kingdom.

At the head of a large body of followers, the Cid finally joined the

Moorish King of Zaragoza, in whose service he fought against both

Moslems and Christians with equal vigor. It was probably during this exile

that he was first called “El Cid," an Arabic title, which means the lord. He

was very successful in all his battles. During the exile years, the Cid

conquers city after city in Spain and claims that all was done in Alfonso's

name. To regain his integrity, he fought against the Moorish armies and

conquered Valencia. By these heroic acts he regained the confidence of

the king finally, after a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Moor of

25


Alfonso commanders, Rodrigo is called back to Alfonso’s court, and his

honor restored. Alfonso knows he must now depend on Rodrigo. Rodrigo's

function is to restore the morale of the troops.

In honor of his return, King Alfonso VI personally marries Rodrigo’s

daughters to two princes from Carrion. However, when men from El Cid’s

army made fun of the princes because they ran from a Lion; the two

hammered the wives in revenge and left their wives tied to a tree. El Cid

demanded justice. The two were beaten in a duel and stripped of their

honor and made to pay the dowry back to Rodrigo. The two daughters

remarry a prince from Aragon and a prince from Navarre. Through these

marriages, Rodrigo helps to begin the unification of Spain. Their wives

Moctadir invaded Valencia in 1088, but afterwards carried on

operations alone, and finally, after a long siege, made himself master of the

city in June, 1094. He retains possession of Valencia for five years.

Rodrigo reigns as an independent sovereign over one of the richest

territories on the Peninsula. El Cid died suddenly in 1099 when hearing

that his relative, Alvar Fañez, had been vanquished, and the army which he

had sent for his assistance had been defeated.

After the Cid's death, Doña Ximena held Valencia till 1102. Finally,

she was coerced to yield to the Almoravides and then escaped to Castile

where she died in 1104. Her remains were placed by those of “El Cid” in

the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña. The great popular hero in the

Age of Chivalry in Spain was born in the village of Vivar near Burgos

around 1040; Rodrigo or Ruy Diaz died at Valencia in 1099. His pleased

countrymen gave him the honorable epithets of El Cid (lord, chief) by the

Moors and that of Campeador (champion) by the Spaniards.

26


Tradition and legend have cast a deep shadow over the past of this

brave knight, to such an extent that some has questioned his very

existence, but there is, however, no reason to doubt his existence. Some

historians paint Rodrigo as a free agent, a dishonorable adventurer, one

who battled with equal vigor against Christians and Moors alike. They see

him as a man who furthers his own ends. In their view, he would as soon

destroy a Christian church as a Moslem temple. El Cid plunders and

murders for gain and not from a conscientious, patriotic motive. It must be

accepted in mind, however, that the facts which discredit him have reached

us through hostile Arab historians and that to deal with him impartially, he

should be judged according to the standard of his county in his own

historical context.

The Cid of romance, legend, and ballad is famous. In that role, he is

fancied as the tender, loving husband and father; the intrepid and fearless

soldier; the noble and generous conqueror, staunchly loyal to his country

and his king. This is the Cid whose name has been hallowed and linked to

the inspiration of Spanish nationalism. Some historians and artists

describe Rodrigo’s career as being somewhat vicious. On the other hand,

there are detractors but mainly from Arab historians.

Whatever the real truth may have been, the real adventures of El Cid

Campeador have been told over and over throughout the centuries. His

name has come down to us in modern times in connection with a long

series of heroic achievements. El Cid stands out as the central figure in the

long struggle of Christian Spain against the invading Moslem hoards.

El Cid demanded justice and the princes were killed. Next, they

married again. Rodrigo lived long enough to see his two daughter happily

27


married. Cristina Dias Rodriguez, the oldest daughter of El Cid, was born

in 1077. She had one son in 1099. He was to become King of Navarre and

known as Garcia VII King of Navarre. He weds Cristina in 1099 or shortly

before the infant Ramiro Sanchez was born. This marriage produced the

future king of Pamplona, García Ramírez “the Restorer," who in 1130

married his first wife, Marguerite de L’Aigle. They were also parents of

Elvira Ramirez, wife of Count Rodrigo Gomez, son of Count Gomez

Gonzaletz that of Candespina, with the right to succession. Garcia

Ramirez was the grandson of El Cid.

RESOURCES

55-92. ISBN 84-87876-41-2

2. ^ See Ramón Menéndez Pidal, «Autógrafos inéditos Del Cid y de Jimena en dos diplomas de 1098 y 1101,»

Revista de Filología Española, t. 5 (1918), Madrid, Sucesores de Hernando, 1918. Digital copies Valladolid, Junta de

Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo. Dirección General de Promociones e Instituciones Culturales,

2009-2010. Original in Archivo de la Catedral de Salamanca, caja 43, legajo 2, n. º 72.

3. ^ Alberto Montaner Frutos y Ángel Escobar, «El Carmen Campidoctoris y la materia cidiana,» in Carmen

Campidoctoris Poema Latino del Campeador, Madrid, Sociedad Estatal España Nuevo Milenio, 2001, pág. 73 [lam.].

ISBN 978-84-95486-20-2

4. ^ Alberto Montaner Frutos, «Rodrigo el Campeador como princeps en los siglos XI y XII»

5. ^ Georges Martin «El primer testimonio cristiano sobre la toma de Valencia (1098), » en el número

monográfico «Rodericus Campidoctor» de la revista electrónica e-Spania, n. º 10 (diciembre de 2010). Online since

January 22nd, 2011. URL <http://e-spania.revues.org/19945> Last time visited November 28th, 2011. Complete text

(Edition de the Latin text) in José Luis Martín & al., Documentos de los Archivos Catedralicio y Diocesano de

Salamanca (siglos XII-XIII), Salamanca, Universidad, 1977, doc. 1, p. 79-81.

6. ^ a b Chaytor, Henry John (1933). "Chapter 3: The Reconquest." A History de Aragon and Catalonia,

London: Methuan. Pp. 39–40.

7. ^ The Historia Roderici says that the other two Castilian leaders were Diego Pérez and Lope Sánchez. De

los Rios, José Amador (1863). "Capitulo 3: Primeros Monumentos Escritos de la Poesía Castellana (Chapter 3: First

28


Written Monuments de Castilian Poetry)." Historia Crítica de la Literatura Española, Tomo III, (II Parte, Subciclo I)

(The History and Criticism de Spanish Literature, Volume III, (Second Part, subpart I)) (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: J.

Rodriguez. P. 104.8. ^ A b c d Perea Rodríguez, Óscar. "Díaz de Vivar, Rodrigo El Cid, (1043-1099)."

Retrieved 23 April 2012.

9. ^ Alonso, J. I. Garcia; Martinez, J. A.; Criado, A. J. (1999). "Origin de El Cid's sword revealed by ICP-MS

metal analysis." Spectroscopy Europe (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.) 11 (4)

Translations into English

Robert Southey, Chronicle de the Cid, 1808, prose translation with other matter from chronicles and ballads, with an

appendix including a partial verse translation by John Hookham Frere.

John Ormsby, The Poem de Cid, 1879, with introduction and notes.

Archer Milton Huntington, Poem de the Cid, (1897–1903), reprinted from the unique manuscript at Madrid, with

translation and notes.

Lesley Byrd Simpson, the Poem de the Cid, 1957.

W.S. Merwin, the Poem de the Cid, 1959.

Paul Blackburn, Poem de the Cid: a modern translation with notes, 1966.

Fuentes Ian Michael, 1976, (Introducción) a su Ed, Ian Michael, 1976, 'Introduction' to his ed. DePoema de Mío Cid,

Madrid, Castalia p. 39. ISBN 978-84-7039-171-2.

Alberto Montaner Frutos, 2011, La Historia Roderici y el archivo cidiano: cuestiones filológicas, diplomáticas,

jurídicas e historiográficas, e-Legal History Review, 12,

Alberto Montaner Frutos, 2011, "History and the file Roderici cidiano: philological issues, diplomatic, legal and

historiographic,' e-Legal History Review, 12, ISSN 1699-5317 ISSN 1699-5317.

29


http://goo.gl/NXyl2 http://2yearsinmadrid.blogspot.com/2011/07/el-

cids-castle-almonacid.html *

Andalusian Horse

Wikipedia.com The legendary sword de “El Cid”.

COUNTESS ALVIRA CRISTINA DIAZ RODRIGUEZ DE VIVAR

Maria "and Cristina, daughters of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, beaten and left for

dead by their husbands, the lords de Carrión. Cristina was eventually

30


remarried to Ramiro. "[http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramiro_S

%C3%A1nchez_Lord_de_Monz%C3%B3n Retrieved march 3/6/2014} In

1099 García VII Ramírez originates in Navarre, Spain. His father, Ramiro,

was 29 and his mother, Cristina, was 22. He had one daughter in 1133. He

dies in 1150 in Larca, Spain," at the age de 51."

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lina_Ron Accessed 3/26/2014] Pamplona,

Spain.

31

El Cid’s Citadel Almonacid


CHAPTER 3

García VI Ramírez DE NAVARRE “The Restorer” and Family

Do not confuse this Garcia for the

earlier one of the same name, a Navarre’s

sub-king, García Ramírez de Viguera.

Historians report that: “García Ramírez, sometimes García IV, V, VI or VII

(died 21 November 1150), called the Restorer (Spanish: el Restaurador),

was Lord de Monzón and Logroño, and, from 1134, King of Navarre. He

"restored" the independence of the Navarrese crown after 58 years of

union with the Kingdom of Aragon.”ii

The birth of Garcia takes place during the early part of the “twelfth

century.” His father, Ramiro Sánchez de Monzón, was the son of Sancho

Garcés, illegitimate son of García Sánchez III de Navarre and half-brother

de Sancho IV. His mother Cristina is a daughter of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar,

better known as El Cid.”iii

In 1076, as a consequence of the murder of king Sancho IV by his

siblings, Navarre united with Aragon. However, with the loss of the

childless warrior king Alfonso the Battler in 1134 the succession fell into

dispute. In his unusual will, Alfonso had left the combined kingdoms to

three crusading orders, which effectively neutralized the Papacy from

exercising a role in selecting among the potential candidates. The nobility

32

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cid


quickly rejected the will, with that of Aragon favoring Alfonso's younger

brother Ramiro, a monk. The nobility of Navarre is skeptical of Ramiro

having the necessary temperament to resist the incursions by their western

neighbor. The western neighbor was another claimant, King Alfonso VII of

León and Castile. They, perhaps chafing under the continued Aragonese

hegemony, [one] initially favored a different candidate, Peter de Atarés, a

grandson de Alfonso's illegitimate uncle, Sancho Ramírez, Count de

Ribagorza.

A convocation of the bishops and nobility convenes at Pamplona.

The meeting was to compare leadership qualities between Peter and

Ramiro. Peter alienates the convention as he acts arrogantly.

Consequently, they were in favor of an heir of their own dynasty, García

Ramírez, Lord de Monzón. Garcia is the husband of Cristina de Vivar the

daughter of El Cid. He likes Peter descended from an illegitimate brother

of a former king. The nobility and clergy of Navarre select Garcia to reign

as King. At the same time, Ramiro enthrones at Aragon, and he strongly

opposed Garcia’s election in Navarre.

In light of this, the Bishop de Pamplona granted García his church's

treasure to fund his government against Ramiro's pretensions.[2] Among

Garcia’s other early supporters were Lop Ennechones, Martinus de Leit,

and Count Latro, who carried out negotiations on the king's behalf with

Ramiro.[3] Eventually, however, in January 1135 with the Pact de

Vadoluongo the two monarchs reached a mutual accord of "adoption":

Deeming García as a "son" and Ramiro as a "father" attempts to maintain

both the freedom of each kingdom and the de facto supremacy of the

Aragonese one completes. In May 1135, García declared himself a vassal

33


of Alfonso VII. The security and lordship of Castile now operate from the

vassalage of Garcia. Therefore, Alfonso recognizes Garcia's royal status.

[For] Now that Garcia submits to Castile it operates as an act of protection

for Navarre. It resulted in putting Navarra in a defensive alliance against

Aragon. Now that García has turned to Alfonso, this law forced Ramiro to

marry and to produce an heir. Ramiro then forged an alliance with

Raymond Berengar IV de Barcelona. [Five] On the other hand, García may

have been responding to Ramiro's marriage, which proved beyond doubt

that the king of Aragon was seeking another heir rather than his distant

relative and adopted son. [6]

Before September 1135, Alfonso VI grants García the city of

Zaragoza as a fief. [Seven] Recently conquered from Aragon, this outpost

of Castilian authority in the east was clearly beyond the military capacity of

Alfonso to control and provided further reasons for the recognition of

García in Navarre in return for not only his homage, but his holding

Zaragoza on behalf of Castile. In 1136, Alfonso VI now does homage to

Zaragoza and, therefore, he recognizes Ramiro as King of Zaragoza. In

1137, the suzerainty of Zaragoza changed hands to Raymond Berengar de

Catalonia. , however, Alfonso retains reign over it because Garcia’s feign

over it has closed.

Sometime after 1130, but before his succession, García married

Marguerite de l'Aigle. She was to bear him a son and successor, Sancho

VI, as well as two daughters who married kings. The elder, Blanche, born

after 1133, was originally to marry Raymond Berengar IV as confirmed by a

peace treaty in 1149, despite the count's existing betrothal to Petronilla de

34


Aragon, but García died before the marriage could be carried out. Instead,

she married Sancho III de Castile.

King Sancho's younger daughter, Princess Margaret, married King

William I de Sicily. Garcia’s relationship with his first queen was, however,

shaky. She took on many lovers and showed favoritism to her French

relatives. She bore a second son named Rodrigo, but her husband refused

to recognize as his own.[8] On 24 June 1144, in León, García married

Urraca, called "La Asturiana" (the Asturian), illegitimate daughter de

Alfonso VII by Guntroda Pérez, to strengthen his relationship with his

overlord.

In 1136, García obliged to surrender Rioja to Castile but, in 1137, he

allied with Alfonso I de Portugal and confronted Alfonso VII. They

confirmed the peace between 1139 and 1140. He was thereafter an ally of

Castile in the Reconquista and was instrumental in the conquest of Almería

in 1147. In 1146, he occupied Tauste, which belonged to Aragon, and

Alfonso VII intervened to mediate peace between the two kingdoms.

García died on 21 November 1150 in Lorca, near Estella, and buried

in the cathedral of Santa María la Real in Pamplona. Garcia's eldest son

succeeded him. He left one daughter by Urraca: Sancha, she married

successively Gaston V de Béarn, and then Pedro Manrique de Lara. He left

a widow in the person of his third wife, Ganfreda López.

35


Navarre is harassed by the army of Alfonso VII. Papal

representatives did not recognize his reign. In 1140, a peace

accommodated Garcia and Alfonso. Nonetheless, war continues with

Ramon Berenguer IV. After promising his daughter, Blanca, peace is

signed with Ramon. At this point in history, the area of the land of Navarre

was considered part of Castile. Diplomatically, this marriage arrangement

was not wise. Blanca is already promised to the eldest son of Alfonso VII.

Sancho III was in line for the Castilian throne. Nevertheless, Blanca

married Sancho III on January 30, 1151 in Calahorra. The marriage would

have the child Alfonso VIII de Castile future king of Castile.

[http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanca_Garc % C3 %

A9s_de_Navarra ,Accessed March 30, 2014]

The Princess Blanche Garcés, also known as Blanca de Navarre (b.

1133 in Laguardia - August 12, 1156) is the daughter of King García

36

García left, as the primary monument of his reign, the monastery of Santa María de la Oliva in Carcastillo. It is a fine example of Romanesque architecture.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanca_Garc%20%25%20C3%20%25%20A9s_de_Navarra

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanca_Garc%20%25%20C3%20%25%20A9s_de_Navarra


Ramírez de Navarre and Queen Consort Marguerite de I’Aigle.[ Battle of

Graus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Graus (accessed March 30, 2014).]

García Ramírez is a grandson of an illegitimate son of García Sánchez III

[Family: García Ramírez de Navarre and Marguerite de l’apos

..,]http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:Garc%C3%ADa_Ram

%C3%ADrez_de_Navarre_and_Marguerite_de_l'Aigle_ (1) (accessed

March 30, 2014). Blanca is the Daughter of García Ramírez V de Navarre,

"the Restorer" and L'Aigle Rotrou (daisy-descendant of the Capetian Kings

of France and the Carolingians-; García Ramírez is the son of Ramiro

Sánchez of Navarra-and a direct descendant o Cristina Rodriguez of Bivar,

the Cid Campeador’s daughter). She marries Sancho III "the Deseado"

king de Castile, on January 30, 1151 and has a son by Alfonso VIII de

Castile.

He is also the father of Sancho VI el Sabio, Rey de Navarra; Blanca

de Navarra, Queen consort de Castilla; Margherita di Navarra, Queen

consort di Sicilia; Rodrigo García; and Sancha de Navarra, vizcondesa

consort of Narbona, brother of Alfonso Ramírez, señor de Castroviejo and

Cedesa and Elvira Ramírez. [http://www.geni.com/people/Blanca-de-

Navarra/5666804980580048343. Accessed March 30, 2014]

Navarre is harassed by the army of Alfonso VII. Papal

representatives did not recognize his reign. In 1140, a peace

accommodated Garcia and Alfonso. Nevertheless, war continues with

Ramon Berenguer IV. After promising his daughter in marriage, Blanca,

peace is signed with Ramon. At this point in history, the area of the land de

Navarre was considered part of Castile. Diplomatically, this marriage

37


arrangement was not wise. Blanca is already promised to the eldest son of

Alfonso VII. Sancho III was in line for the Castilian throne.

Notwithstanding, Blanca marries Sancho III on January 30, 1151 in

Calahorra. The marriage produces the child Alfonso VIII future king de

Castile. [http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:Garc%C3%ADa_Ram

%C3%ADrez_de_Navarre_and_Marg...] No records are found after the

birth of a child other than Alfonso and one assumes that Queen Blanca

died as a result of complications during childbirth. She has a history of

having several children who did not survive. Those children are interred in

the church of San Pedro, in Soria. Sancho donated money to the burial

place of Blanca in the monastery of Santa María la Real in Najera. An

interesting side note concerning her sarcophagus comes from the art world.

It reflects the ability to express artistically raw emotions in the twelfth

century. This grave is a jewel of European Romanesque In the main, the

death mask of Blanca is portrayed on the lid, while her soul represented by

a naked child is carved, is elevated to Heaven by two angels. On the sides,

behind some trees, the king is comforted by courtiers.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garc%C3%ADa_Ram%C3%ADrez_de_Navarre Accessed 03/27/2014] Ibid.http://2yearsinmadrid.blogspot.com/2011/07/el-cids-castle-almonacid.html

38

http://2yearsinmadrid.blogspot.com/2011/07/el-cids-castle-almonacid.html

i

iiChapter 5iii

Alfonso VIIIEpitaphs given to Alfonso VIII (11 November 1155 – 5 October 1214) were

"The Noble" or "el de las Navas.” These are a reflection on his character and

his fighting skills. He is the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and also the

King of Toledo. The conquests of the Almohad Caliphate sites on the Peninsula

is the legacy he leaves to the Spanish Christians. Previously, Alfonso is

defeated in Alarcos by the hands of the Almohads. [Three] Thereafter, the

power of the Almohads breaks when Alfonso leads a coalition of Christian

princes and foreign crusaders against them. In 1212, at the Battle de the

Navas de Tolosa, Alfonso is completely victorious. The battle marks Alfonso

VIII de Castile as a solid leader. It also celebrates a turn of the tide of Christian

fortunes and supremacy on the Iberian Peninsula. Leon and Castile and Aragon

are lead to a closer coalition with each other, thereby cementing the rule of

these three Christian areas.

To control the regency was to control the kingdom, so it was thought by a

majority of nobles. Immediately, the various noble houses plunged Castile into

turmoil while rivaling for the open position of reagent. The child was saved by

the actions of a squire as the nobles approached too close for comfort when the

squire took him to a royal stronghold so that rival families could not harm him.

The two major contenders for the regency were the powerful noble houses of

Lara and Castro. His uncle, Ferdinand II de Leon even vied for the honor.

During the year of 1159, Garcia Garces de Aza took custody of Alfonso;

however, he did not have enough money to support him. The problem of

regency came to a head when the Castro and Lara families met in battle in

March of 1160. While the Castro family, won the Battle de Lobregal, the

guardianship of Alfonso and the rule of the kingdom went to Manrique Perez de

Lara. By the age of fifteen, Alfonso stepped forward to take control of his

kingdom. Alfonso VIII de Castile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_VIII_br (accessed April 2, 2014).He wrest

his capital, Toledo, away from the Lara Family.

The daughter de García Ramírez — Blanche de Navarre, and Sancho III

de Castile gave birth to Alfonso VIII in Soria, Spain on 11 November 1115. He

is named after his grandfather, Alfonso VII, although his childhood, arguably, did

not resemble the life of his emperor grandfather. Traumatic events marked his

early upbringing. First came the death of his mother and within the space of

three years his father died. Although a hapless infant, he is proclaimed king

when only three years of age. The rowdy nobles of the realm consider his

presence merely a nuisance as they plot their expected course.

To control the regency was to control the kingdom, so it was thought by a

majority of nobles. Immediately, the various noble houses plunged Castile into

turmoil while rivaling for the open position of reagent. The child was saved by

the actions of a squire as the nobles approached too close for comfort when the

squire took him to a royal stronghold so that rival families could not harm him.

The two major contenders for the regency were the powerful noble houses of

Lara and Castro. His uncle, Ferdinand II de Leon even vied for the honor.

During the year of 1159, Garcia Garces de Aza took custody of Alfonso;

however, he did not have enough money to support him. The problem of

regency came to a head when the Castro and Lara families met in battle in

March of 1160. Although the Castro family, won the Battle of Lobregal the

guardianship of Alfonso and the rule of the kingdom went to Manrique Perez de

Lara. When Alfonso becomes fifteen, he steps forward to take control of his

kingdom with efficient results. He seized his capital, Toledo, away from the Lara

Family.

Alfonso gave to the Knights de Templar the municipality of Uclés. In 1177,

it was from here that plans and executions with the Knights commenced an in

the reconquest of Cuenca. From the date of 21 September, the citizen on the

feast of Saint Matthew celebrates their independence from the Moors. Through

negotiations and political wrangling Alfonso allies the major Christian kingdoms

of Iberia. Alfonso VIII de Castile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_VIII_br (accessed April 2, 2014).Now

Navarre, León, Portugal, and Aragon will stand and fight against the Almohads.

So intricate was his plan that by the Treaty de Cazola de 1179, expansion plans

for future military conquest of encompassing areas de future

Alfonso gave to the Knights of Templar the municipality of Uclés. In 1177,

it was from here that plans and executions with the Knights commenced in the

reconquest of Cuenca. From the date of 21 September, the citizen on the feast

of Saint Matthew celebrates their independence from the Moors. Through

negotiations and political wrangling Alfonso allies the major Christian kingdoms

of Iberia against the Almohads. — Aragon, Portugal, Leon. So intricate was his

plan that, by the Treaty of Cazola of 1179, expansion plans were laid out for

future military conquest of the acquisition land areas.

The King of Castile gave to the Knights of Templar the municipality of

Uclés. In 1177, it was from here that plans and executions with the Knights

commenced in the reconquest of Cuenca. From the date of 21 September, the

citizen on the feast of Saint Matthew celebrates their independence from the

Moors. Through negotiations and political wrangling Alfonso allies the major

Christian kingdoms of Iberia against the Almohads. — Aragon, Portugal, Leon.

So intricate was his plan that, by the Treaty de Cazola de 1179, expansion plans

for future military conquest of land areas de future were authored.

The king of Castile also in 1186 retrieved a part of the land area that lies

between the triangular land areas, Burgos to Soria and then to Longoria, known

as La Rioja. Because of his love of learning, Alfonso founded the first university

in Castile and located it in Plasencia. The city is built from the ground up and

contains six gates, 68 towers and a double line of walls after founding Plasencia

(Cáceres) in 1186, he embarked on a major initiative. He addresses a problem

that has plagued Spain's entities for centuries. Reconquista was his ultimate

goal, and he needs a united nobility to accomplish this. Ultimately, Alfonso is

able not only to unite his nobles but to unite most Christian kingdoms of Spain to

wage the Pope's Reconquest.

The principal town of Alacros in Castile came under attack by the

Almohads. Concurrently, in 1195 Alfonso was forced to come to its aid. What

follows is unfortunate for Castile. Alfonso is defeated and in battle nearly

escapes with his life. Caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf as-Mansur assumes that his

victory has stabilized the Moors interests in the Iberian Peninsula and leaves for

Africa. Then the city of Calatrava falls to the Moors as the Moors exploit the

surrounding area. Toledo now becomes the stalwart boundary between the

Castilians and the Moor.

Now, however, the days of the Almohads are numbered. Pope Innocent

III in 1212 launched a crusade against the Almohads. The Christian opposition

to the Moor was the Castilians under Alfonso, the Franks, the Catalans and

Aragonese under Peter II, Navarrese under Sancho VII, There was also a

contingent of the military orders present. Three major cities of Benavente,

Alarcos, and Calatrava were captured before the onslaught. This time Alfonso

and his allies were successful and the power of the Almohad diminished. The

battle was fought at Las Navas de Tolosa on 16 July. The Moorish caliph

Muhammad an-Nasir tasted the bitterness of defeat.

A little more than twenty four months later Alfonso dies. His faithful

Queen, Leonor, dies only twenty six days later. He leaves an amazing legacy

for a medieval Spanish ruler. Alfonso has ruled a long fifty six years. Illustrious

lives lie in wait for his children.

One of his daughter Berenguela, will become the mother of Saint

Fernando III. Another daughter, Blanca, marries the King de France and

becomes the mother of a second saint, Saint Louis IX King de France.

Then a son of only eleven years, Enrique I take the throne of Castile

Eleanor Plantagenet and Alfonso VIII births Enrique I on 14 April 1204 but

Enrique (or Henry) is forced to take the throne when his older brother Ferdinand

dies. Henry marries Mafalda de Portugal, daughter de Sancho I de Portugal.

The regency was assumed by Henry's older sister Berengaria de Castile, wife

of Alfonso IX de Leon. In 1215, Henry married Mafalda de Portugal, daughter

de Sancho I de Portugal. Consanguinity between the two becomes an issue and

the Pope dissolves the marriage in 1216. Henry I de Castile dies a year later

from a freak accident. A tile fell off the roof and struck him in the head while

playing with his peers. Consequently, his sister Berengaria succeeded him.

Then she renounces the throne so that her son will rule.

Chapter 6

Berenguela I “THE GRAND”, QUEEN DE CASTILLE

Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry II of England are the grandparents of Queen

consort Berengaria of Castile. Likewise she is the older daughter of Eleanor

Plantagenet, Princess of England, and her husband King Alfonso VIII of Castile. Also

carrying the same first name was Berengaria the granddaughter of Alfonso VII of León.

Berenguer IV of Barcelona knows her as his sister through a matrilineal link she is

related to the most powerful personages of the time- Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and

King Henry II of England. Also, Queen Berengaria is the consort of King Alfonso IX of

Leon.

The older daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet of

England held the throne as regent for her brother Henry and her son Fernando.

This woman should have been the reigning Queen of Castile but instead gave

up her throne for her son- Fernando. Eventually, the king united the kingdoms of

Castile and León. Eleanor births her daughter Berenguela in Segovia, Spain.

She is educated, in an effective and efficient way, by her mother Eleanor of

Castile who gives the same education for all her children. Berengaria's

character is excellent, as well. Her sisters Urraca and Blanche of Castile,

Queens in their own right, as well have the traits of excellent education and

character instilled in them by their mother.

After the marriage plans end, with the assassination of Duke Conrad, her

mother’s matchmaking skills begin anew. Weighing the choice's mother Lenore

decides to stay within Spain’s borders. She chooses Alfonso IX, King of Leon.

In 1197, the union took place. Her dowry is large including several castles and

land revenues. In return, Castilla returns to Leon all territories incurred as a

result of former wars. Berenguela bears five children to the marriage, including

Fernando, the future king who united both under his scepter.

The Church In 1204 determined that the monarchs were inbreeding.

Alfonso was her uncle and the relationship too close for the Church to afford.

This decision by the new Pope even though the old Pope had approved the

marriage. Despite this setback, Berengaria is returned to Castile, the children

went with Berenguela. The new Pope did declare the children legitimate.

When King Alfonso died in 1214, his third surviving son became King of

Castile. Enrique I or Henry was only 10 years old, thereon, a regency rule

predominated until such time as Henry was ready to rule. The king’s mother

reigned under the regency for 24 days until the time of her death. Berengaria,

now the heir presumptive, then ruled under the regency. Henry was still in line

to rule but because of his tender age his sister, Berengaria, reigned instead. It

was during this time that internal agitation began in the area. It involved the

nobles but mainly the House of Lara. In order to avoid civil disconcordance and

agitation Berengaria turns over the regency of the king and the realm to

Count Álvaro Núñez de Lara. This political move quieted factions of the nobility-

but only for a little while.