Sancho II of Pamplona
Encyclopedia
Sancho II Garcés Abarca (after 935 – December 994) was King of Pamplona from 970 until his death. He was the son of García Sánchez I and Andregota
, daughter of Galindo Aznárez II, Count of Aragon. After his succession, he recognised his younger brother Ramiro
as King of Viguera.
The Historia General de Navarra by Jaime del Burgo
says (referencing in turn the Anales del Reino de Navarra of José de Moret) that on the occasion of the donation of the villa of Alastue by Sancho to the monastery of San Juan de la Peña
in 987, he titled himself "King of Navarre," the first time that title had been used. This title, however, did not come into common usage until the late eleventh century. The epithet "Abarca," meaning "sandal," is not contemporary, but is medieval.
Under Sancho, the kingdom solidified some of the gains of his predecessor, but also suffered several significant military setbacks at the hands of Ummayad troops. Navarre was linked with the Kingdom of León
and the County of Castile by familial bonds, and the realms frequently worked in concert, with the Navarrese monarchy supporting the young Ramiro III of León
.
In 972, he founded the monastery of San Andrés de Cirueña. In 976, at the monastery of Albelda
, the cultural and intellectual centre of his kingdom, the Codex Vigilanus
was completed. It is one of the most important illuminated manuscripts of medieval Spain, containing the canons of the Councils of Toledo
, a copy of the Liber Iudiciorum, and the first Western representation of the Arabic numerals
, among many other texts.
Upon the death of the Caliph of Cordoba, Al-Hakam II
, in 976, and the succession of his son Hisham II
, who had been taught by Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir
, the prospects of the Christian kingdoms seemed dim. The troops of Al-Mansur defeated the Christians at Torrevicente
, south of Soria
. Afterwards, the Muslims returned to triumph at Taracueña, near Osma. In 975, Sancho was defeated by the Moors at San Esteban de Gormaz
and it has been suggested that he was captured at the Battle of Estercuel
that year.
In 981 at Rueda
, a dozen kilometers from Tordesillas
, the Christians suffered another humiliating defeat.
Because he could not defeat Al-Mansur by arms, Sancho went to Córdoba
as an ambassador for his own kingdom, bringing many gifts for the victorious Al-Mansur, making a pact with him and agreeing to give the Muslim his daughter Urraca in marriage. From this union was born Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
, the second successor of Al-Mansur who tried to usurp the Caliphate of Córdoba from the Umayyad
heir.
He faced further incursions from Almanzor in 989, 991 and 992, the last of which resulted in a second submission at Córdoba, and the next year he sent his son Gonzalo on an embassy to the Caliphate. In 994, the year of his death, the kingdom saw yet another incursion by a caliphate army.
Sancho married Urraca
, the daughter of the Castilian count Fernán González and Sancha of Navarre, Sancho's aunt. The marriage occurred after 962 and before 970. Before 950, Urraca had been married twice previously, to Ordoño III
and Ordoño IV of León
, from both of whom she separated. Sancho was her third and last husband. Their children were:
Andregota Galíndez
Andregoto Galíndez was daughter of Count Galindo II Aznárez Count of Aragon from 922, being by his second wife, Sancha Garcés of Pamplona...
, daughter of Galindo Aznárez II, Count of Aragon. After his succession, he recognised his younger brother Ramiro
Ramiro Garcés of Viguera
Ramiro Garcés was the King of Viguera from 970 to his death. He was the son of García Sánchez I of Pamplona by his second wife, Theresa of León...
as King of Viguera.
The Historia General de Navarra by Jaime del Burgo
Jaime del Burgo
Jaime Ignacio del Burgo is a Navarrese lawyer and deputy, a historian and opponent of the inclusion of Navarra in the autonomous Basque Country...
says (referencing in turn the Anales del Reino de Navarra of José de Moret) that on the occasion of the donation of the villa of Alastue by Sancho to the monastery of San Juan de la Peña
San Juan de la Peña
The monastery of San Juan de la Peña is a religious complex in the town of Santa Cruz de la Serós, at the south-west of Jaca, in the province of Huesca, Spain. It was one of the most important monasteries in Aragon in the Middle Ages. Its two-level church is partially carved in the stone of the...
in 987, he titled himself "King of Navarre," the first time that title had been used. This title, however, did not come into common usage until the late eleventh century. The epithet "Abarca," meaning "sandal," is not contemporary, but is medieval.
Under Sancho, the kingdom solidified some of the gains of his predecessor, but also suffered several significant military setbacks at the hands of Ummayad troops. Navarre was linked with 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...
and the County of Castile by familial bonds, and the realms frequently worked in concert, with the Navarrese monarchy supporting the young Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III , king of León , was the son of Sancho the Fat and his successor at the age of only five. During his minority, the regency was in the hands of two nuns: his aunt Elvira Ramírez of León, who took the title of queen during the minority, and his mother Teresa Ansúrez, who was put in a...
.
In 972, he founded the monastery of San Andrés de Cirueña. In 976, at the monastery of Albelda
Albelda
Albelda is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 877 inhabitants....
, the cultural and intellectual centre of his kingdom, the Codex Vigilanus
Codex Vigilanus
The Codex Vigilanus or Códice Albeldense , full name Codex Conciliorum Albeldensis seu Vigilanus, is an illuminated compilation of various historical documents from the Visigothic period in Spain...
was completed. It is one of the most important illuminated manuscripts of medieval Spain, containing the canons of the Councils of Toledo
Councils of Toledo
Councils of Toledo . From the 5th century to the 7th century, about thirty synods, variously counted, were held at Toledo in what would come to be part of Spain. The earliest, directed against Priscillianism, assembled in 400. The "third" synod of 589 marked the epoch-making conversion of King...
, a copy of the Liber Iudiciorum, and the first Western representation of the Arabic numerals
Arabic numerals
Arabic numerals or Hindu numerals or Hindu-Arabic numerals or Indo-Arabic numerals are the ten digits . They are descended from the Hindu-Arabic numeral system developed by Indian mathematicians, in which a sequence of digits such as "975" is read as a numeral...
, among many other texts.
Upon the death of the Caliph of Cordoba, Al-Hakam II
Al-Hakam II
Al-Hakam II was the second Caliph of Cordoba, in Al-Andalus , and son of Abd-ar-rahman III . He ruled from 961 to 976....
, in 976, and the succession of his son Hisham II
Hisham II
Hisham II was the third Caliph of Cordoba, of the Umayyad dynasty. He ruled 976–1009, and 1010–1013 in the Al-Andalus ....
, who had been taught by Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir
Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir
Abu Aamir Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abi Aamir, Al-Hajib Al-Mansur , better known as Almanzor, was the de facto ruler of Muslim Al-Andalus in the late 10th to early 11th centuries. His rule marked the peak of power for Moorish Iberia.-Origins:He was born Muhammad Ibn Abi Aamir, into a noble Arab...
, the prospects of the Christian kingdoms seemed dim. The troops of Al-Mansur defeated the Christians at Torrevicente
Battle of Torrevicente
The Battle of Torrevicente was fought on Saturday, 9 July 981 between two Córdoban generals: Galib ibn Abd al-Rahman, recently rebelled, and the loyalist Ibn Abi ‘Amir. Two Christian forces fought as allies of Galib: the Basques under Ramiro Garcés, King of Viguera, and the Castilians under Count...
, south of Soria
Soria
Soria is a city in north-central Spain, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile and León. , the municipality has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province...
. Afterwards, the Muslims returned to triumph at Taracueña, near Osma. In 975, Sancho was defeated by the Moors at San Esteban de Gormaz
San Esteban de Gormaz
San Esteban de Gormaz is a municipality in the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon, Spain. Its population is approximately 3,500...
and it has been suggested that he was captured at the Battle of Estercuel
Battle of Estercuel
The Battle of Estercuel took place on 6 July 975 between the forces of the Kingdom of Viguera, under king Ramiro Garcés, and those of the Caliphate of Córdoba, under the kaid of Zaragoza, al-Tuyibi. The battle, a typical skirmish of the Christian–Muslim frontier, was a victory for the Caliphate...
that year.
In 981 at Rueda
Rueda
Rueda may refer to one of the following.*Rueda , the Spanish wine producing region in the province of Valladolid*Rueda de Casino, a round dance variant of salsa...
, a dozen kilometers from Tordesillas
Tordesillas
Tordesillas is a town and municipality in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, central Spain.It is located 25 km southwest of the provincial capital, Valladolid at an elevation of 704 meters. The population was c. 9,000 in 2009....
, the Christians suffered another humiliating defeat.
Because he could not defeat Al-Mansur by arms, Sancho went to 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...
as an ambassador for his own kingdom, bringing many gifts for the victorious Al-Mansur, making a pact with him and agreeing to give the Muslim his daughter Urraca in marriage. From this union was born Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo
Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo , born and died in Córdoba, was the son of Almanzor and chief minister of Hisham II, Caliph of Córdoba....
, the second successor of Al-Mansur who tried to usurp the Caliphate of Córdoba from the Umayyad
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
heir.
He faced further incursions from Almanzor in 989, 991 and 992, the last of which resulted in a second submission at Córdoba, and the next year he sent his son Gonzalo on an embassy to the Caliphate. In 994, the year of his death, the kingdom saw yet another incursion by a caliphate army.
Sancho married Urraca
Urraca Fernández
Urraca Fernández , infanta of Castile and daughter of Count Fernán González, was the queen consort of two Kings of León and one King of Navarre between 951 and 994...
, the daughter of the Castilian count Fernán González and Sancha of Navarre, Sancho's aunt. The marriage occurred after 962 and before 970. Before 950, Urraca had been married twice previously, to Ordoño III
Ordoño III of León
Ordoño III was the King of León from 951 to 956, son and successor of Ramiro II . He confronted Navarre and Castile, who supported his half-brother Sancho the Fat in disputing Ordoño's claim to the throne....
and Ordoño IV of León
Ordoño IV of León
Ordoño IV, called the Wicked or the Bad , son of Alfonso IV of León and nephew of Ramiro II, was the king of León from 958 until 960, interrupting the reign of Sancho the Fat for a two year period...
, from both of whom she separated. Sancho was her third and last husband. Their children were:
- García Sánchez II
- Ramiro (died 992)
- Gonzalo, was given the county of Aragon under the regency of his mother
- Urraca (Abda) the Basque, given to Almanzor, and by him mother of Abd al-Rahman SanchueloAbd al-Rahman SanchueloAbd al-Rahman Sanchuelo , born and died in Córdoba, was the son of Almanzor and chief minister of Hisham II, Caliph of Córdoba....
, before entering a convent.