Alonso Pérez de Guzmán El Bueno
Encyclopedia
Alonso de Guzmán known as Guzmán el Bueno ("the good"), was a Spanish nobleman, was the founder of the line which the dukes of Medina Sidonia belonged to.
. However, there is evidence that he was not Spanish but a Moor
. In a permit to export wheat signed in 1288, he is given permission to export the crop to where "he is from", probably in Morocco
. Furthermore, in a document from 1297 owned by the Duchess of Medina Sidonia and signed by the then king, Guzmán is referred to as "a vassal", i.e. a non-Spaniard. The Duchess, a direct descendent, has said that his history was "cleaned up" in the sixteenth century to cleanse his ethnicity from the records and make him more palatable to Spain's Christian society.
In 1296 he defended the town of Tarifa
on behalf of Sancho IV of Castile
. Guzmán had been given charge of Tarifa, recently captured from the Moors, despite having fought for Alfonso X
against the rebellion of his son Sancho IV. Guzmán held Tarifa's castle
against the siege of the Moors and the Infante Don Juan, Sancho's rebellious brother. Guzmán's son had been placed under the care of Don Juan who attempted to kill the captive unless Guzmán surrendered the city. According to legend, Guzmán rebuffed the demand with dramatic words: according to one rendition, "I did not beget a son to be made use of against my country, but that he should serve her against her foes. Should Don Juan put him to death, he will but confer honour on me, true life on my son, and on himself eternal shame in this world and everlasting wrath after death." Guzman punctuated his words by throwing his own knife down for the besiegers
to use in killing his son. http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/yonge/deeds/guzman.html
He was rewarded by large grants of crown land. The ducal title was conferred by John II
in 1445 on one of his descendants, Juan Alonzo de Guzmán, count of Niebla
. The addition "El Bueno" to the family name of Guzmán was used by several of the house, which included many statesmen, generals and colonial viceroy
s.
In 1309 he helped Ferdinand IV of Castile
capture Gibraltar
from the Moors, who had held it since 711.
Biography
He was born at LeónLeón, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
. However, there is evidence that he was not Spanish but a Moor
Moor
-Ethnicity:*Moors, several historic and modern populations from North Africa*Sri Lankan Moor, a minority ethnic group of Sri Lanka*Marakkar, a Muslim minority ethnic group of India-Places:...
. In a permit to export wheat signed in 1288, he is given permission to export the crop to where "he is from", probably in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. Furthermore, in a document from 1297 owned by the Duchess of Medina Sidonia and signed by the then king, Guzmán is referred to as "a vassal", i.e. a non-Spaniard. The Duchess, a direct descendent, has said that his history was "cleaned up" in the sixteenth century to cleanse his ethnicity from the records and make him more palatable to Spain's Christian society.
In 1296 he defended the town of Tarifa
Tarifa
Tarifa is a small town in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, on the southernmost coast of Spain. The town is located on the Costa de la Luz and across the Straits of Gibraltar facing Morocco. The municipality includes Punta de Tarifa, the southernmost point in continental Europe. There are five...
on behalf of Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV of Castile
Sancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
. Guzmán had been given charge of Tarifa, recently captured from the Moors, despite having fought for Alfonso X
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
against the rebellion of his son Sancho IV. Guzmán held Tarifa's castle
Castillo de Guzman
The Castillo Guzmán el Bueno for "The castle of Guzman the good"), also called Tarifa Castle, is a castle in the coastal town of Tarifa in Spain. It is more than 800 years old. Recently refurbished, it is open to visitors. The coast and mountains of Morocco are visible from its towers...
against the siege of the Moors and the Infante Don Juan, Sancho's rebellious brother. Guzmán's son had been placed under the care of Don Juan who attempted to kill the captive unless Guzmán surrendered the city. According to legend, Guzmán rebuffed the demand with dramatic words: according to one rendition, "I did not beget a son to be made use of against my country, but that he should serve her against her foes. Should Don Juan put him to death, he will but confer honour on me, true life on my son, and on himself eternal shame in this world and everlasting wrath after death." Guzman punctuated his words by throwing his own knife down for the besiegers
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
to use in killing his son. http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/yonge/deeds/guzman.html
He was rewarded by large grants of crown land. The ducal title was conferred by John II
John II of Castile
John II was King of Castile from 1406 to 1454.He was the son of Henry III of Castile and his wife Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster by Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile.-Regency:He succeeded his father on 25 December 1406, at the age of...
in 1445 on one of his descendants, Juan Alonzo de Guzmán, count of Niebla
Niebla
-Places:* Niebla, Chile, a coastal town in the municipality of Valdivia* Niebla, Huelva, a municipality in Huelva province, Spain* Taifa of Niebla, a medieval taifa kingdom of the Iberian peninsula-People:* Mr...
. The addition "El Bueno" to the family name of Guzmán was used by several of the house, which included many statesmen, generals and colonial viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
s.
In 1309 he helped Ferdinand IV of Castile
Ferdinand IV of Castile
Ferdinand IV, El Emplazado or "the Summoned," was a king of Castile and León and Galicia...
capture Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
from the Moors, who had held it since 711.