Gonzalo de Marañón
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo de Marañón was a Castilian
magnate during the reigns of Alfonso VII (1126–57), Sancho III
(1157–58), and Alfonso VIII (1158–1214). By January 1174 he had attained the rank of count
(Latin comes), the highest in the kingdom. He was one of the earliest members of the Spanish nobility to adopt a toponymic (in this case "de Marañón
") as a family name
. His interests lay in the far east of the kingdom, in areas once (and again today) a part Navarre
, and his toponymic indicates Navarrese origins.
Although, according to Luis de Salazar y Castro, his father was Rodrigo Pérez de Marañón, this filiation has not been documented. He married Mayor García de Aza, daughter of García Garcés de Aza
and his wife, Sancha Pérez. Their marriage is first recorded in 1169, when Alfonso VIII made a donation of the village of Villasequilla
to the couple. Gonzalo was a frequent recipient of royal largesse. On 19 September 1144 Alfonso VII granted him the village of Sartaguda
, and in 1176 Alfonso VIII confirmed all the grants previously made—though we cannot be sure what all they were—save that of Mamblas
. In 1148 Manrique Pérez de Lara
and his relatives gave some houses in Toledo
to Gonzalo, allowing him to expand his interests into the largest and most prosperous city in the kingdom.
As a young man, between February 1155 and July 1157, Gonzalo held the post of alférez
at the court of Alfonso VII, the last of Alfonso's alférezes. He was thus in charge of the royal military entourage, an office usually reserved for young noblemen, although he held it again under Alfonso VIII from November 1171 until his death. Between November 1153 and 1172 he held the tenencia of Peñafiel
. He founded the Cistercian monastery of Bujedo de Juarros in 1159, and endowed the Benedictine
house of San Salvador de Toledo in 1163.
The last record of Gonzalo dates from November 1178. His widow, Mayor, was still living in January 1182 when she, jointly with her children who confirm the charter, founded a Cistercian convent in the village of Aza. The children, as recorded in this charter, were Fernando, Pedro, Alberico, Nuño, Domicio, and Inés, who entered the nunnery on that date. The properties donated for the foundation of the convent, attached to the Monastery of Bujedo de Juarros, were situated in Aza, Torregalindo, Zorita, Hontangas, Sepúlveda, Camareno, and other places. Three of his sons entered the Order of Santiago
, and the eldest rose to the rank of Grand Master.
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
magnate during the reigns of Alfonso VII (1126–57), Sancho III
Sancho III of Castile
Sancho III was King of Castile and Toledo for one year, from 1157 to 1158. During the Reconquista, in which he took an active part, he founded the Order of Calatrava...
(1157–58), and Alfonso VIII (1158–1214). By January 1174 he had attained the rank of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
(Latin comes), the highest in the kingdom. He was one of the earliest members of the Spanish nobility to adopt a toponymic (in this case "de Marañón
Marañón, Navarre
Marañón is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
") as a family name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
. His interests lay in the far east of the kingdom, in areas once (and again today) a part Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, and his toponymic indicates Navarrese origins.
Although, according to Luis de Salazar y Castro, his father was Rodrigo Pérez de Marañón, this filiation has not been documented. He married Mayor García de Aza, daughter of García Garcés de Aza
García Garcés de Aza
García Garcés de Aza was a Castilian magnate "renowned for his wealth and dullness", yet "a prominent figure in the later Andalusian campaigns of the Emperor between 1150 and 1157"...
and his wife, Sancha Pérez. Their marriage is first recorded in 1169, when Alfonso VIII made a donation of the village of Villasequilla
Villasequilla
Villasequilla is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 2,515 inhabitants....
to the couple. Gonzalo was a frequent recipient of royal largesse. On 19 September 1144 Alfonso VII granted him the village of Sartaguda
Sartaguda
Sartaguda is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
, and in 1176 Alfonso VIII confirmed all the grants previously made—though we cannot be sure what all they were—save that of Mamblas
Mamblas
Mamblas is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 252 inhabitants....
. In 1148 Manrique Pérez de Lara
Manrique Pérez de Lara
Manrique Pérez de Lara was a magnate of the Kingdom of Castile and its regent from 1158 until his death. He was one of the most important counsellors and generals of three successive Castilian monarchs: Alfonso VII , Sancho III and Alfonso VIII...
and his relatives gave some houses in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
to Gonzalo, allowing him to expand his interests into the largest and most prosperous city in the kingdom.
As a young man, between February 1155 and July 1157, Gonzalo held the post of alférez
Alférez
Alférez is a junior officer rank also used in Spain, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The variant Alferes is used in Portugal and was formerly also used in Brazil. A naval variant, Frigate Alférez, is used in Spain, Dominican Republic and Peru. "Alférez" is often translated as ensign...
at the court of Alfonso VII, the last of Alfonso's alférezes. He was thus in charge of the royal military entourage, an office usually reserved for young noblemen, although he held it again under Alfonso VIII from November 1171 until his death. Between November 1153 and 1172 he held the tenencia of Peñafiel
Peñafiel
Peñafiel is a town in Valladolid Province, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain, best known for the Peñafiel Castle and for its medieval square used for bullfights and named "Plaza del Coso"...
. He founded the Cistercian monastery of Bujedo de Juarros in 1159, and endowed the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
house of San Salvador de Toledo in 1163.
The last record of Gonzalo dates from November 1178. His widow, Mayor, was still living in January 1182 when she, jointly with her children who confirm the charter, founded a Cistercian convent in the village of Aza. The children, as recorded in this charter, were Fernando, Pedro, Alberico, Nuño, Domicio, and Inés, who entered the nunnery on that date. The properties donated for the foundation of the convent, attached to the Monastery of Bujedo de Juarros, were situated in Aza, Torregalindo, Zorita, Hontangas, Sepúlveda, Camareno, and other places. Three of his sons entered the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
, and the eldest rose to the rank of Grand Master.