García Gómez
Encyclopedia
García Gómez was a Leonese
count, at least from 971. He was the eldest son of Gómez Díaz and Muniadomna Fernández, daughter of Fernán González, Count of Castile. From his father he inherited the counties of Saldaña
, Carrión
, and Liébana
.
By a charter dated 15 May 984 García donated some property at Calzadilla de Cueza to the monastery of Sahagún
. On 1 September 986 he witnessed a donation of his supposed uncle Osorio Díaz of the villa Arcello to the same monastery.
García married Muniadomna, daughter of Gonzalo Vermúdez and Ildonza Ramírez and a niece of Velasquita Ramírez, the queen of Vermudo II of León. In 988–9 he and his father-in-law, perhaps with the support of the Ansúrez clan, were in rebellion against Vermudo II. Leagued with Almanzor, the Muslim hajib
, who marched on León, the rebels forced Vermudo to take refuge in Galicia and expelled the counts of Monzón from the Tierra de Campos
. The entire land between Zamora
and Castie, including León itself, was in the hands of García, governing under the authority of Almanzor. He went so far as to title himself "ruling (imperante) in León" in the early months of 990. In 990 Vermudo returned and ousted the rebels, who quickly reconciled with him.
García Gómez also supported the revolt between November 991 and September 992 that expelled Vermudo from the kingdom, a revolt led by his father-in-law, Munio Fernández, and count Pelayo Rodríguez
. He was on better terms with Vermudo's successor, Alfonso V
.
On 29 June 1000 he participated in the Battle of Cervera
. According to Ibn al-Khatib
, at Cervera Kayaddayr al-Dammari al-Abra (the Leper), a prince of the north African tribe of the Banu Dammari, decapitated one of the counts of the Banu Gumis and carried his head about with him. García's three brothers, Velasco, Sancho, and Munio, also bore the title count, but only Velasco does not appear in any sources after 1000 and can therefore be identified as the one killed at Cervera. The only narrative Christian sources to mention the battle, both closely related to the Muslims histories, differ from them in stressing the leadership of García Gómez. The Anales Castellanos Segundos
record that In era MXXXVIII [año 1000] fuit arrancada de Cervera super conde Sancium Garcia et Garcia Gomez: "In the Era
1038[ AD
1000] was the defeat of Cervera over count Sancho García and García Gómez." According to the Anales Toledanos Primeros, in Era MCCCVIII fue la arranda [arrancada] de Cervera sobre el conde don Sancho García e García Gómez: "Era 1308 [sic] was the defeat of Cervera over the count don Sancho García and García Gómez."
Recently, Margarita Torres Sevilla has proposed identifying García Gómez with the "Ibn Mama Duna" or "Ibn Mumadumna al-Qumis" (son/descendant of Muniadomna, the Count) who in 1009 entered Córdoba
and installed as caliph
one Sulayman ibn Hakam, the candidate of the Berbers
. The evidence is, however, very weak and the Christian count who entered Córdoba that year was Sancho García of Castile.
After the Almanzor's death (1002), García was one of the barons of the realm who signed the peace treaty with the former's son, al-Muzzaffar. In 1005 he added Cea
and Grajal to his domains and in 1007 Ceión. García rebelled again in 1007, when he used the title Count of León.
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
count, at least from 971. He was the eldest son of Gómez Díaz and Muniadomna Fernández, daughter of Fernán González, Count of Castile. From his father he inherited the counties of Saldaña
Saldaña
-Places:*Saldana Municipality*Saldaña, Palencia*Saldaña, Colombia*Saldaña de Burgos*Saldaña River...
, Carrión
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
, and Liébana
Liébana
Liébana is a comarca of Cantabria .It covers 570 square kilometers and is located in the southwest of Cantabria, bordering Asturias, León and Palencia...
.
By a charter dated 15 May 984 García donated some property at Calzadilla de Cueza to the monastery of Sahagún
Sahagún
Sahagún can refer to:*Sahagún, Spain, a town and monastery in Léon, Spain. Cradle of the Mudéjar architecture*Sahagún, Córdoba, the second town in population in Córdoba Department, Colombia, also called "The Cultural City of Cordoba"People...
. On 1 September 986 he witnessed a donation of his supposed uncle Osorio Díaz of the villa Arcello to the same monastery.
García married Muniadomna, daughter of Gonzalo Vermúdez and Ildonza Ramírez and a niece of Velasquita Ramírez, the queen of Vermudo II of León. In 988–9 he and his father-in-law, perhaps with the support of the Ansúrez clan, were in rebellion against Vermudo II. Leagued with Almanzor, the Muslim hajib
Hajib
The term "hajib" is not to be confused with the word "hijab", which is a headscarf for Muslim women.A hajib was a government official in Al-Andalus and Egypt. They began as treasurers or Chamberlains but by 756, the position had evolved to be equivalent to a vizier or higher....
, who marched on León, the rebels forced Vermudo to take refuge in Galicia and expelled the counts of Monzón from the Tierra de Campos
Tierra de Campos
Tierra de Campos is a large historical region or greater comarca that straddles the provinces of León, Zamora, Valladolid and Palencia, in Castile and León, Spain...
. The entire land between Zamora
Zamora, Spain
Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which is some 50 km downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier...
and Castie, including León itself, was in the hands of García, governing under the authority of Almanzor. He went so far as to title himself "ruling (imperante) in León" in the early months of 990. In 990 Vermudo returned and ousted the rebels, who quickly reconciled with him.
García Gómez also supported the revolt between November 991 and September 992 that expelled Vermudo from the kingdom, a revolt led by his father-in-law, Munio Fernández, and count Pelayo Rodríguez
Pelayo Rodríguez (count)
Pelayo Rodríguez was an important magnate and a count of the Kingdom of León and a common presence at the courts of Vermudo II and Alfonso V ....
. He was on better terms with Vermudo's successor, Alfonso V
Alfonso V of León
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"....
.
On 29 June 1000 he participated in the Battle of Cervera
Battle of Cervera
The Battle of Cervera took place near Espinosa de Cervera on 29 July 1000 between the Christian troops of counts Sancho García of Castile and García Gómez of Saldaña and the Muslim Caliphate of Córdoba under the hajib Almanzor. The battle, "tremendous and difficult to describe", was a victory for...
. According to Ibn al-Khatib
Ibn al-Khatib
Lisan al-Din ibn al-Khatib was a poet, writer, historian, philosopher, physician and politician from Emirate of Granada. Some of his poems decorate the walls of the Alhambra in Granada.He was born at Loja, near Granada...
, at Cervera Kayaddayr al-Dammari al-Abra (the Leper), a prince of the north African tribe of the Banu Dammari, decapitated one of the counts of the Banu Gumis and carried his head about with him. García's three brothers, Velasco, Sancho, and Munio, also bore the title count, but only Velasco does not appear in any sources after 1000 and can therefore be identified as the one killed at Cervera. The only narrative Christian sources to mention the battle, both closely related to the Muslims histories, differ from them in stressing the leadership of García Gómez. The Anales Castellanos Segundos
Anales castellanos segundos
The Anales castellanos segundos are a set of Latin annals compiled in the mid or late twelfth century in Castile, covering the period from the nativity of Jesus to the death of Queen Urraca in 1126 or to 1110...
record that In era MXXXVIII [año 1000] fuit arrancada de Cervera super conde Sancium Garcia et Garcia Gomez: "In the Era
Spanish era
The Spanish era, Hispanic era or Caesar era refers to the dating system used in Hispania until the 14th century, when the Anno Domini system was adopted. It began with year one in what is 38 BC, probably the date of a new tax imposed by the Roman Republic on the subdued population of Iberia....
1038
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
1000
Recently, Margarita Torres Sevilla has proposed identifying García Gómez with the "Ibn Mama Duna" or "Ibn Mumadumna al-Qumis" (son/descendant of Muniadomna, the Count) who in 1009 entered Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
and installed as caliph
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
one Sulayman ibn Hakam, the candidate of the Berbers
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
. The evidence is, however, very weak and the Christian count who entered Córdoba that year was Sancho García of Castile.
After the Almanzor's death (1002), García was one of the barons of the realm who signed the peace treaty with the former's son, al-Muzzaffar. In 1005 he added Cea
Cea
-People:* Eusebio Rodolfo Cordón Cea , Salvadoran politician* José Pedro Cea , Uruguayan footballer* José Roberto Cea , Salvadoran novelist and poet-Places:* Cea River, Spain...
and Grajal to his domains and in 1007 Ceión. García rebelled again in 1007, when he used the title Count of León.
Sources
- Martínez Díez, Gonzalo. 2005. El condado de Castilla, 711–1038: La historia frente a la leyenda. Marcial Pons Historia.
- Nobility of Asturias, Galicia, and León: Chapter 23. Saldaña (Beni Gómez family) at the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy's Medieval Lands Project