Gómez González de Traba
Encyclopedia
Gómez González de Traba (fl.
1164–1209) was a Galician
nobleman, a count
from 1169, and a wealthy and influential figure in the Kingdom of León
. He was the second son of Gonzalo Fernández de Traba
and his first wife, Elvira Rodríguez. His elder brother, Fernando González
, died prematurely in 1166 and Gómez became the head of the House of Traba.
Throughout his career Gómez was the tenant (tenente, ruler on behalf of the king) of Trastámara
, a traditional Traba stronghold. He received it on the death of his brother in 1166 and ruled it probably until his death (at least to 1208). He only held Traba, his family's namesake, briefly in 1168, the same year he received the tenancy of A Coruña
(then called Faro), which he held into 1169. His power at this stage was still mainly in Galicia, where he received Montenegro
in 1169 and Monterroso
in 1170. He held onto the latter until 1173, when he was replaced by Gómez González of Castile until 1179. Thereafter he continued to hold it until 1200, and then once more in 1204. He lost Montenegro until 1183, but held thereafter until 1200 with two brief interruptions (1188–89, 1190–92).
In 1173 Gómez was granted the tenancy of Cervantes in Galicia and also the vast borderland of the Extremadura
in the south of the realm. In 1175 he held the tenancies of the Bierzo, Ulver
, and Villabuena. Between 1176 and 1177 he held Salamanca
, the rising second city of the kingdom. In 1178 King Ferdinand II
ceded all his rights in the town of Guitiriz to Gómez. In 1181 he was granted the rule of the Galician centres of San Pelayo de Lodo, Toroño (which he retained until 1185), and Túy
. In 1182 he was back governing the Extremadura for a second term and also received Ribadeo
. On the death of Ferdinand II and the succession of his son Alfonso IX in 1188, Gómez was transferred to the tenancies of Monforte de Lemos
and the Limia
. In 1189 he was transferred to Sarria
, where he remained until 1200, along with his other Galician fiefs of Montenegro and Monterroso. In 1193 Alfonso IX appointed him majordomo, the highest office in the kingdom. In 1200, for reasons unknown, he fell from favour at Alfonso's court and can only be traced there on one occasion (in 1201) between then and the summer of 1204, when he was restored to favour.
Gómez was a regular patron of the Cistercian monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes that had been founded by his grandfather, Fernando Pérez de Traba, endowing it with gifts on four separate occasions in 1165, 1166, 1171, and 1180. Later in life he favoured other foundations, showing generosity to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
(1186), the Cistercians of Carracedo (1191), the regular clergy
of Caabeiro (1196), and the Benedictine
s of Lourenzá
(1201). There is an odd surviving charter dated 6 January 1165 by which Gómez made a donation to the Benedictine monastery at Jubia "for the remedy of the souls of my father and brother, the already deceased count Fernando González", though his brother was still living as late as 26 December that year. The charter is probably mis-dated, but the correct date is unknown.
Sometime before 1174 Gómez took as his first wife Elvira Pérez, daughter of Pedro Alfonso
and María Fróilaz. She gave him two daughters, Urraca and Sancha, who married Gonzalo Pérez de Lara. By 1182 he was married to Miracle (Miraglia), daughter of Ermengol VII of Urgell
and Douce. She is last recorded alive in 1195. Gómez's children by her were Fernando, Gonzalo, Rodrigo, and Velasco.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1164–1209) was a Galician
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Founded by Suebic king Hermeric in the year 409, the Galician capital was established in Braga, being the first kingdom which...
nobleman, a 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...
from 1169, and a wealthy and influential figure in the Kingdom 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...
. He was the second son of Gonzalo Fernández de Traba
Gonzalo Fernández de Traba
Gonzalo Fernández de Traba was a Galician nobleman and the leader of the House of Traba. He was the eldest son and successor of Fernando Pérez de Traba by his wife Sancha González...
and his first wife, Elvira Rodríguez. His elder brother, Fernando González
Fernando González de Traba
Fernando González de Traba was a Galician magnate and the head of the House of Traba in the Kingdom of León during the reign of Ferdinand II. He was the eldest son of Gonzalo Fernández de Traba and Elvira Rodríguez. He was the alférez of the realm from April 1159 until at least 31 July 1160...
, died prematurely in 1166 and Gómez became the head of the House of Traba.
Throughout his career Gómez was the tenant (tenente, ruler on behalf of the king) of Trastámara
Trastámara
The House of Trastámara was a dynasty of kings in the Iberian Peninsula, which first governed in Castile beginning in 1369 before expanding its rule into Aragón, Navarre and Naples.They were a cadet illegitimate line of the House of Burgundy....
, a traditional Traba stronghold. He received it on the death of his brother in 1166 and ruled it probably until his death (at least to 1208). He only held Traba, his family's namesake, briefly in 1168, the same year he received the tenancy of A Coruña
A Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
(then called Faro), which he held into 1169. His power at this stage was still mainly in Galicia, where he received Montenegro
Montenegro, Spain
Montenegro is located at in Andalucía, Spain; and currently has only 5 adult inhabitants. It is part of the municipality of Alpujarra de la Sierra.It is on the old GR 7 trading route that runs from Algeciras to Greece....
in 1169 and Monterroso
Monterroso
Monterroso is a municipality in Lugo province in Galicia in north-west Spain.-History:Monterroso was the seat of an important tenencia in medieval Galicia...
in 1170. He held onto the latter until 1173, when he was replaced by Gómez González of Castile until 1179. Thereafter he continued to hold it until 1200, and then once more in 1204. He lost Montenegro until 1183, but held thereafter until 1200 with two brief interruptions (1188–89, 1190–92).
In 1173 Gómez was granted the tenancy of Cervantes in Galicia and also the vast borderland of the Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
in the south of the realm. In 1175 he held the tenancies of the Bierzo, Ulver
Cornatel
Cornăţel may refer to several villages in Romania:* Cornăţel, a village in Buzoeşti Commune, Argeş County* Cornăţel, a village in Urecheşti Commune, Bacău County* Cornăţel, a village in Roşia Commune, Sibiu County...
, and Villabuena. Between 1176 and 1177 he held Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, the rising second city of the kingdom. In 1178 King Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II of Leon
Ferdinand II was King of León and Galicia from 1157 to his death.-Life:Born in Toledo, Castile, he was the son of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and of Berenguela, of the House of Barcelona. At his father's death, he received León and Galicia, while his brother Sancho received Castile and...
ceded all his rights in the town of Guitiriz to Gómez. In 1181 he was granted the rule of the Galician centres of San Pelayo de Lodo, Toroño (which he retained until 1185), and Túy
Tuy
Tuy may refer to:Places:*Ocumare del Tuy, a city in the Miranda State in northern Venezuela* The Tuy river in Venezuela*Santa Teresa del Tuy, a city in the state of Miranda, Venezuela...
. In 1182 he was back governing the Extremadura for a second term and also received Ribadeo
Ribadeo
Ribadeo is a municipality in the Spanish province of Lugo in Galicia. It has a population of 9619 and an area of 106.2 km². It is the capital of the A Mariña Oriental region .- External links:*....
. On the death of Ferdinand II and the succession of his son Alfonso IX in 1188, Gómez was transferred to the tenancies of Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River and Miño River, in the area...
and the Limia
A Limia
A Limia is a comarca in the Galician Province of Ourense. The overall population of this local region is 24,266 .-Municipalities:Baltar, Os Blancos, Calvos de Randín, Porqueira, Rairiz de Veiga, Sandiás, Sarreaus, Trasmiras, Vilar de Barrio, Vilar de Santos and Xinzo de Limia....
. In 1189 he was transferred to Sarria
Sarria
Sarria is a municipality in the province of Lugo, northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. Sarria is the most densely populate town on the French Way in Galicia, with 13 700 inhabitants...
, where he remained until 1200, along with his other Galician fiefs of Montenegro and Monterroso. In 1193 Alfonso IX appointed him majordomo, the highest office in the kingdom. In 1200, for reasons unknown, he fell from favour at Alfonso's court and can only be traced there on one occasion (in 1201) between then and the summer of 1204, when he was restored to favour.
Gómez was a regular patron of the Cistercian monastery of Sobrado dos Monxes that had been founded by his grandfather, Fernando Pérez de Traba, endowing it with gifts on four separate occasions in 1165, 1166, 1171, and 1180. Later in life he favoured other foundations, showing generosity to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral of the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The cathedral is the reputed burial-place of Saint James the Greater, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. It is the destination of the Way of St...
(1186), the Cistercians of Carracedo (1191), the regular clergy
Regular clergy
Regular clergy, or just regulars, is applied in the Roman Catholic Church to clerics who follow a "rule" in their life. Strictly, it means those members of religious orders who have made solemn profession. It contrasts with secular clergy.-Terminology and history:The observance of the Rule of St...
of Caabeiro (1196), and 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...
s of Lourenzá
Lourenzá
Lourenzá is a municipality in Lugo province in Galicia in northwest Spain....
(1201). There is an odd surviving charter dated 6 January 1165 by which Gómez made a donation to the Benedictine monastery at Jubia "for the remedy of the souls of my father and brother, the already deceased count Fernando González", though his brother was still living as late as 26 December that year. The charter is probably mis-dated, but the correct date is unknown.
Sometime before 1174 Gómez took as his first wife Elvira Pérez, daughter of Pedro Alfonso
Pedro Alfonso
Pedro Alfonso or Alfónsez was an Asturian magnate, dominating the region from 1139 until his death. He had vast landholdings in the Asturias, the province of León, and Toledo, including in the cities of León and Toledo, the most important cities of the realm. His commercial dealings, too, were...
and María Fróilaz. She gave him two daughters, Urraca and Sancha, who married Gonzalo Pérez de Lara. By 1182 he was married to Miracle (Miraglia), daughter of Ermengol VII of Urgell
Ermengol VII of Urgell
Ermengol VII was the Count of Urgell from 1154 to his death. He was called el de Valencia.The son of Ermengol VI and his first wife, Arsenda of Cabrera, in 1157, Ermengol VII married Dulce, daughter of Roger III of Foix and Jimena de Osona, who acted as his regent during his absences in Castile...
and Douce. She is last recorded alive in 1195. Gómez's children by her were Fernando, Gonzalo, Rodrigo, and Velasco.