Osorio Martínez
Encyclopedia
Osorio Martínez (bef. 1108 – March 1160) was a magnate from the Province of León in the Empire
of Alfonso VII. He served the emperor militarily throughout his long career, which peaked in 1138–41. Besides the documentary sources, which are somewhat meagre at times after his fall from royal favour, he is mentioned in two episodes in the Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris. He supported Ferdinand II of León
after Alfonso's death (1157), but he died in a Castilian
civil war in 1160.
of the Flagínez family and Sancha Fernández. In 1124 Osorio was granted the tenencia of Melgar de Abajo
. In 1126 he joined the other noblemen of the Leonese province in swearing an oath of fealty to the new king Alfonso VII at the capital city of León. Five years later (1129) he received Malgrat
. The next year (1130) he received the tenencias of Riba Cetera and Villamayor
, later also that of Ribera
, but these he lost sometime between 1135 and 1137. As early as 1131 he was governing Mayorga and by 1135 the Liébana
as well. In 1130 he and his brother Rodrigo
were dispatched to besiege the rebel Pedro Díaz in a place called Valle. The Chronica Adefonsi records the campaign:
and the king immediately appointed Osorio count
(comes) in his place and granted his tenencias of León, Aguilar
, Campos, and perhaps Zamora
. Osorio and his brother's erstwhile vassals carried Rodrigo's body to the city of León for burial in the family mausoleum beside his parents. There they buried him in a church next to the Cathedral of Santa María
, possibly the monastery of San Pedro de los Huertos, which his parents had received by a royal grant of Urraca of Zamora
and Elvira of Toro in 1099. Osorio held numerous property interests in the city of León. Osorio's succession to his brother and the burial of Rodrigo are recorded in the Chronica Adefonsi:
Sometime before 28 January 1141, Osorio married Teresa, daughter of Fernando Fernández de Carrión
and Elvira, a daughter of Alfonso VI of León. She bore him five daughters and three sons: Aldonza, Constanza, Elvira, Fernando, Gonzalo, Jimena, Rodrigo, and Sancha. From January 1139 to the summer of 1141 Osorio was regularly at court. On 22 February 1140 he was at Carrión de los Condes
to witness the treaty between Alfonso VII and Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona. But in the summer of 1141 he fell from favour and his tenencias were confiscated (Melgar, Malgrat, Mayorga, Liébana, León, Aguilar, Campos, Zamora). Among the few tenencias he was left with were Peñafiel (1146), Villafrechós
(1147–59), Villalobos
(1147–59), Becilla de Valderaduey
(1151–57), Cotanes (1155), and Arales
(1157). After June 1142 Osorio rarely visited the royal court. In May 1146 he visited the court of Alfonso I of Portugal, perhaps as an exile.
s to the villages of Benafarces
and Villalonso
with the approval of the king. The villages in turn were required to make an annual payment in kind of half a sheep, ten loaves of bread
, some barley
, and some must
. Later that year he accompanied Alfonso VII on expeditions to Calatrava
and Almería
. On 22 October 1148 he granted the village of Mansilla Mayor
to Juan Juliánez and his wife Sol in recognition of their faithful service to him. That same year Osorio and his wife made a donation to the monstery of Gradefes
and received in return a greyhound
.
In 1159 Osorio and Teresa granted a third of the tithes of the churches of Villalonso, Benafarces, Carvajosa, Grallarejos and Pozoantiguo
, which they claimed to own by hereditary right, to the Cathedral of Zamora. They also patronised the Benedictine
monasteries at Aguilar (1141) and Sahagún
(1123) and the monastery of Vega, which belonged to the Order of Fontevraud (1147).
Osorio died at the hands of his son-in-law, husband of his daughter Constanza, Fernando Rodríguez de Castro
, at the Battle of Lobregal
in March 1160, fighting on the side of the House of Lara
in the civil war for control of the regency
of the young Alfonso VIII. Osorio's widow continued to rule Villalobos, at least until 3 November 1167. She also made property grants to the Hospitallers in 1161 and 1163.
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...
of Alfonso VII. He served the emperor militarily throughout his long career, which peaked in 1138–41. Besides the documentary sources, which are somewhat meagre at times after his fall from royal favour, he is mentioned in two episodes in the Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris. He supported Ferdinand II of León
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...
after Alfonso's death (1157), but he died in a Castilian
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...
civil war in 1160.
Early military career (1124–1138)
Osorio was the second son of Martín FlaínezMartín Flaínez
Martín Flaínez was "one of the most powerful and distinguished members" of the Leonese aristocracy during the reign of Alfonso VI , with which the length of his public life almost exactly coincided...
of the Flagínez family and Sancha Fernández. In 1124 Osorio was granted the tenencia of Melgar de Abajo
Melgar de Abajo
Melgar de Abajo is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census , the municipality has a population of 145 inhabitants.- Demography :...
. In 1126 he joined the other noblemen of the Leonese province in swearing an oath of fealty to the new king Alfonso VII at the capital city of León. Five years later (1129) he received Malgrat
Benavente
Benavente may refer to: Benavente, Portugal— a municipality in Portugal Benavente, Zamora— a municipality in Zamora province, Spain Benavente, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico one of the five Barrios that make up Hormigueros.As a surname...
. The next year (1130) he received the tenencias of Riba Cetera and Villamayor
Villamayor
Villamayor is a municipality located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2008 census , the municipality has a population of 5,808 inhabitants....
, later also that of Ribera
Ribera
Ribera is a Spanish word that translates into "the basin of a river", and may refer to:Locations* Ribera, Agrigento, a comune in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy...
, but these he lost sometime between 1135 and 1137. As early as 1131 he was governing Mayorga and by 1135 the 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...
as well. In 1130 he and his brother Rodrigo
Rodrigo Martínez
Rodrigo Martínez was a Leonese nobleman, landowner, courtier, military leader, governor, and diplomat, "the most powerful lay figure in the region of the western Tierra de Campos," who "emerges as far and away the most regular visitor to the court of Alfonso VII between 1127 and 1138." He was a...
were dispatched to besiege the rebel Pedro Díaz in a place called Valle. The Chronica Adefonsi records the campaign:
The King of León ordered Count Rodrigo Martinez and his brother Osorio to go to León. They were to attack Pedro Díaz who was rebelling in Valle. Díaz had with him a large number of knights and soldiers. Rodrigo and Osorio arrived there and encircled the castle. Those inside continued to shout insults at Rodrigo and his brother because they were unable to counterattack them successfully. When this was reported to Alfonso VII, he hurried to the town of Valle. He commanded that mantlets and numerous other war machines be constructed around the castle. The King's forces commenced to hurl rocks and arrows at those inside. Subsequently, the castle walls were completely destroyed.
Rise and fall (1138–1147)
In July 1138 Rodrigo died at the Siege of CoriaSiege of Coria (1138)
The short first Siege of Coria by Alfonso VII of León took place in July 1138, on the heels of a successful razzia deep into al-Andalus . The main source for the siege is the second book of the contemporary Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris.Coria had previously been reconquered just after 1085 by...
and the king immediately appointed Osorio 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...
(comes) in his place and granted his tenencias of León, Aguilar
Aguilar de Campoo
Aguilar de Campoo is a town in the province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is close to the River Pisuerga.-History:In 1255 Alfonso X the Wise declared it Villa Realenga...
, Campos, and perhaps 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...
. Osorio and his brother's erstwhile vassals carried Rodrigo's body to the city of León for burial in the family mausoleum beside his parents. There they buried him in a church next to the Cathedral of Santa María
León Cathedral
Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-western Spain. It was built on the site of previous Roman baths of the 2nd century which, 800 years later, king Ordoño II converted into a palace.The León Cathedral,...
, possibly the monastery of San Pedro de los Huertos, which his parents had received by a royal grant of Urraca of Zamora
Urraca of Zamora
Urraca was a Leonese infanta, one of the five children of Ferdinand I the Great, who received the city of Zamora as her inheritance and exercised palatine authority in it...
and Elvira of Toro in 1099. Osorio held numerous property interests in the city of León. Osorio's succession to his brother and the burial of Rodrigo are recorded in the Chronica Adefonsi:
Alfonso gathered all of his advisors, and in their presence, he appointed Osorio, Rodrigo's brother, to be consul in his place. . . . Count Osorio, the new consul, took the body of his brother to León. He was accompanied by his own military force and by that of his brother. The mourning over the death of Rodrigo Martínez increased in every city. In León they buried him with honors in his father's tomb near the Basilica of Saint Mary. The tomb is located very near the episcopal throne.
Sometime before 28 January 1141, Osorio married Teresa, daughter of Fernando Fernández de Carrión
Fernando Fernández de Carrión
Fernando Fernández or Fernán Fernándiz de Carrión was a count in the Kingdom of León during the reign of Queen Urraca....
and Elvira, a daughter of Alfonso VI of León. She bore him five daughters and three sons: Aldonza, Constanza, Elvira, Fernando, Gonzalo, Jimena, Rodrigo, and Sancha. From January 1139 to the summer of 1141 Osorio was regularly at court. On 22 February 1140 he was at Carrión de los Condes
Carrión de los Condes
Carrión de los Condes is a municipality in the province of Palencia, part of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León, Spain.It is 40 kilometers from Palencia, on the Way of Saint James.-History:...
to witness the treaty between Alfonso VII and Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona. But in the summer of 1141 he fell from favour and his tenencias were confiscated (Melgar, Malgrat, Mayorga, Liébana, León, Aguilar, Campos, Zamora). Among the few tenencias he was left with were Peñafiel (1146), Villafrechós
Villafrechós
Villafrechós is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 516 inhabitants....
(1147–59), Villalobos
Villalobos
Villalobos is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 295 inhabitants. Surname of Villalobos come from town of Villalobos, Spain....
(1147–59), Becilla de Valderaduey
Becilla de Valderaduey
Becilla de Valderaduey is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 362 inhabitants....
(1151–57), Cotanes (1155), and Arales
Arales
Arales is a botanical name for an order of flowering plants. The name was used in the Cronquist system for an order placed in subclass Arecidae, circumscribed as :* order Arales*: family Acoraceae*: family Araceae...
(1157). After June 1142 Osorio rarely visited the royal court. In May 1146 he visited the court of Alfonso I of Portugal, perhaps as an exile.
Later life (1147–1160)
By 1147 Osorio was back in favour. He granted fueroFuero
Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...
s to the villages of Benafarces
Benafarces
Benafarces is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 114 inhabitants....
and Villalonso
Villalonso
Villalonso is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 116 inhabitants....
with the approval of the king. The villages in turn were required to make an annual payment in kind of half a sheep, ten loaves of bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
, some barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, and some must
Must
Must is freshly pressed fruit juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called pomace; it typically makes up 7%–23% of the total weight of the must. Making must is the first step in winemaking...
. Later that year he accompanied Alfonso VII on expeditions to Calatrava
Calatrava
-Spain:* Calatrava la Vieja , Spanish medieval town* Calatrava la Nueva, Spanish medieval castle and convent-Philippines:* Calatrava, Negros Occidental, a municipality in the Philippines...
and Almería
Almería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
. On 22 October 1148 he granted the village of Mansilla Mayor
Mansilla Mayor
Mansilla Mayor is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2010 census , the municipality has a population of 351 inhabitants....
to Juan Juliánez and his wife Sol in recognition of their faithful service to him. That same year Osorio and his wife made a donation to the monstery of Gradefes
Gradefes
Gradefes is a municipality located in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. , the municipality has a population of 1,076 inhabitants....
and received in return a greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
.
In 1159 Osorio and Teresa granted a third of the tithes of the churches of Villalonso, Benafarces, Carvajosa, Grallarejos and Pozoantiguo
Pozoantiguo
Pozoantiguo is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 306 inhabitants....
, which they claimed to own by hereditary right, to the Cathedral of Zamora. They also patronised 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...
monasteries at Aguilar (1141) and 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...
(1123) and the monastery of Vega, which belonged to the Order of Fontevraud (1147).
Osorio died at the hands of his son-in-law, husband of his daughter Constanza, Fernando Rodríguez de Castro
Fernando Rodríguez de Castro
Fernando Rodríguez de Castro was a Castilian nobleman, statesman and military leader who made his career in León. He was the leader of the House of Castro during the civil wars that followed the death of Sancho III of Castile and the succession of the infant Alfonso VIII...
, at the Battle of Lobregal
Battle of Lobregal
The Battle of Lobregal took place in March 1160 between the House of Lara and its allies and the forces of the House of Castro under Fernando Rodríguez de Castro...
in March 1160, fighting on the side of the House of Lara
House of Lara
The House of Lara or Casa de Lara are a noble family, known from the medieval Kingdom of Castile.Two of its branches, those from the Duke of Nájera and from the Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo were considered Grandees of Spain...
in the civil war for control of the regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the young Alfonso VIII. Osorio's widow continued to rule Villalobos, at least until 3 November 1167. She also made property grants to the Hospitallers in 1161 and 1163.
Further reading
- J. M. Canal Sánchez-Pagín. "El Conde Osorio Martinez y los Marqueses de Astorga". Astorica 7:11–31 (1988).
- P. Martínez Sopena. La Tierra de Campos Occidental: poblamiento, poder y comunidad del siglo X al XIII. Valladolid, 1985.
- P. Martínez Sopena. "El conde Rodrigo de León y los suyos: herencia y expectativa del poder entre los siglos X y XII." R. Pastor ed., Relaciones de poder, de produccion y parentesco en la Edad Media y Moderna. Madrid, 1990, pp. 5–84.
- J. de Salazar y Acha. "Los Osorio: Un linaje de más de mil años al servicio de la Corona". Anales de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía, 4:143–82 (1996–97).