Alfonso V of León
Encyclopedia
Alfonso V called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II
by his second wife Elvira García of Castile
. The Abbot Oliva
called him "Emperor of Spain"
.
Because of his youth at his father's death, his mother acted as a regent. She retired in 1007 and became a nun. He began the work of reorganizing the Christian
kingdom of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula
after a most disastrous period of civil war and Arab
inroads. Enough is known of him to justify the belief that he had some of the qualities of a soldier and a statesman.
His name, and that of his wife Elvira Mendes
(sometimes Geloria Mendes), are associated with the grant of the first franchises of León (1017). He was killed by an arrow while besieging the town of Viseu
in northern Portugal
, then held by the Muslims
.
Alfonso and Elvira had two children:
His second wife was Urraca of Navarre, daughter of García Sánchez II of Pamplona
Alfonso and Urraca had one daughter:
Bermudo II of León
Bermudo II , called the Gouty , was the King of Galicia and León . His reign is summed up by Justo Pérez de Urbel's description of him as "el pobre rey atormentado en la vida por la espada de Almanzor y en muerte por la pluma vengadora de un obispo" Bermudo (or Vermudo) II (956–999), called the...
by his second wife Elvira García of Castile
Elvira García of Castile
Elvira García of Castile was the daughter of García Fernández of Castile and Ava de Ribagorza.She married to Bermudo II of León and had three children from this marriage: Alfonso, Theresa, and Sancha....
. The Abbot Oliva
Abbot Oliva
Oliva was the count of Berga and Ripoll and later bishop of Vic and abbot of Sant Miquel de Cuixà. He was the son of a noble Catalan house who abdicated his secular possessions to take up the Benedictine habit in the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll...
called him "Emperor of Spain"
Imperator totius Hispaniae
Imperator totius Hispaniae is a Latin title meaning "Emperor of all Spain". In Spain in the Middle Ages, the title "emperor" was used under a variety of circumstances from the ninth century onwards, but its usage peaked, as a formal and practical title, between 1086 and 1157...
.
Because of his youth at his father's death, his mother acted as a regent. She retired in 1007 and became a nun. He began the work of reorganizing the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
kingdom of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
after a most disastrous period of civil war and Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
inroads. Enough is known of him to justify the belief that he had some of the qualities of a soldier and a statesman.
His name, and that of his wife Elvira Mendes
Elvira Mendes
Elvira Mendes, sometimes called Elvira or Geloria Menéndez of Portugal or Galicia, , was Queen of León ....
(sometimes Geloria Mendes), are associated with the grant of the first franchises of León (1017). He was killed by an arrow while besieging the town of Viseu
Viseu
Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
in northern Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, then held by the Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Family
His first wife was Elvira MendesElvira Mendes
Elvira Mendes, sometimes called Elvira or Geloria Menéndez of Portugal or Galicia, , was Queen of León ....
Alfonso and Elvira had two children:
- Bermudo IIIBermudo III of LeónBermudo III , king of León , son of Alfonso V of León by his wife Elvira Mendes, was the last scion of Peter of Cantabria to rule in the Leonese kingdom...
(c. 1015–1037) - Sancha of LeónSancha of LeónSancha of León was a daughter of Alfonso V of León by Elvira Mendes and Queen consort of León and Castile. In 1029, a political marriage was arranged between her and count García Sánchez of Castile. However, having traveled to León for the marriage, García was assassinated by a group of...
(c. 1020–1067), married Ferdinand I of LeónFerdinand I of LeónFerdinand I , called the Great , was the Count of Castile from his uncle's death in 1029 and the King of León after defeating his brother-in-law in 1037. According to tradition, he was the first to have himself crowned Emperor of Spain , and his heirs carried on the tradition...
His second wife was Urraca of Navarre, daughter of García Sánchez II of Pamplona
Alfonso and Urraca had one daughter:
- Jimena of León, married Fernando Gundemariz