Sancho I of Castile
Encyclopedia
Sancho García called of the Good Laws (in Spanish
, el de los Buenos Fueros), was the count of Castile and Álava
from 995 to his death.
of Córdoba
. This resulted in the partition of the county between father and son, and the county was not reunited until his father's death five years later. He renewed the Reconquista
by rebelling against Almanzor, alongside his brother-in-law/cousin García Gómez
and their mutual cousin García Sánchez II of Pamplona. Sancho led the coalition that was defeated at the Battle of Cervera
in July 1000, but in early September successfully turned back the Córdoban invasion of his county. Almanzor was again campaigning against Sancho in 1002 when another battle occurred, remembered by the Christians as the Battle of Calatañazor
and Muslims as the Pedroso expedition. The two sides report different outcomes to the battle itself, but Almanzor died of injuries received in the conflict, removing Sancho's primary antagonist and leaving the Caliphate of Córdoba
in crisis. Sancho ruled for another 15 years. In 1010, he intervened in Ribagorza
, bringing about an end to muslim domination there and leading to the abdication of his aunt countess Toda, and the establishment of a partition between Castilian-educated William Isarn, illegitimate son of Toda's brother and predecessor count Isarn, and Raymond Sunyer of Pallars, husband of Sancho's sister Mayor. Following his death in 1017, he was succeeded by his own son García.
They may also have been parents of:
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, el de los Buenos Fueros), was the count of Castile and Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
from 995 to his death.
Biography
Sancho was the son of count García Fernández and his wife Aba of Ribagorza. He rebelled against his father with the support of Al-MansurAl-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...
of 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...
. This resulted in the partition of the county between father and son, and the county was not reunited until his father's death five years later. He renewed the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
by rebelling against Almanzor, alongside his brother-in-law/cousin García Gómez
García Gómez
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....
and their mutual cousin García Sánchez II of Pamplona. Sancho led the coalition that was defeated at 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...
in July 1000, but in early September successfully turned back the Córdoban invasion of his county. Almanzor was again campaigning against Sancho in 1002 when another battle occurred, remembered by the Christians as the Battle of Calatañazor
Battle of Calatañazor
The Battle of Calatañazor was a legendary battle of the Reconquista that supposedly took place in July 1002 at Calatañazor between an army of invading Saracens under Almanzor and a force of Christian allies led by Alfonso V of León, Sancho III of Navarre, and Sancho García of Castile...
and Muslims as the Pedroso expedition. The two sides report different outcomes to the battle itself, but Almanzor died of injuries received in the conflict, removing Sancho's primary antagonist and leaving the Caliphate of Córdoba
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...
in crisis. Sancho ruled for another 15 years. In 1010, he intervened in Ribagorza
County of Ribagorza
The County of Ribagorza or Ribagorça was originally the independent creation of a local Basque dynasty, later absorbed into the Kingdom of Navarre, and then into the Crown of Aragon. Historically it had a strong connexion with the counties of Sobrarbe and Pallars. Its territory was the valleys of...
, bringing about an end to muslim domination there and leading to the abdication of his aunt countess Toda, and the establishment of a partition between Castilian-educated William Isarn, illegitimate son of Toda's brother and predecessor count Isarn, and Raymond Sunyer of Pallars, husband of Sancho's sister Mayor. Following his death in 1017, he was succeeded by his own son García.
Family and issue
Sancho married his cousin Urraca Gómez, sister of count García Gómez and daughter Beni Gómez leader, count Gómez Díaz of Saldaña by Muniadona Fernández of Castile, Sancho's aunt. They had:- Muniadona MayorMayor of CastileMayor of Castile was queen of Navarre. She was originally called Muniadona and is variously called Munia Mayor . In Spanish, she is called Muniadona de Castilla...
, eldest daughter, married Sancho III of NavarreSancho III of NavarreSancho III Garcés , called the Great , succeeded as a minor to the Kingdom of Navarre in 1004, and through conquest and political maneuvering increased his power, until at the time of his death in 1035 he controlled the majority of Christian Iberia, bearing the title of rex Hispaniarum...
, through whom right to the county eventually passed. - Ferdinand, died before 2 March 999
- Tigridia, abbess of San Salvador de Oña, which he founded for her to direct.
- Sancha, married Berenguer Ramon I, Count of BarcelonaBerenguer Ramon I, Count of BarcelonaBerengar Raymond I the Crooked, also called the Hunchback was the count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 1018 to his death.He was the son of Raymond Borrell, count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona and his wife Ermesinde of Carcassonne...
- García, who succeeded his father
They may also have been parents of:
- Urraca, wife of Sancho VI William of GasconySancho VI William of GasconySancho VI William was the Duke of Gascony from 1009 to his death...