Velasco Sánchez
Encyclopedia
Velasco or Blasco Sánchez (floruit
1153–1181) was an Iberian nobleman who held various political and military offices under Afonso I of Portugal
, Alfonso VIII of Castile
, and Ferdinand II of León
. He held the high rank of count
from at least May 1159.
Velasco's family hailed from Galicia. He was a son of Sancho Núñez and Sancha Enríquez. Sancho was a son of Nuño Velázquez and brother of Alfonso Núñez
. Sancha was a daughter of Henry of Burgundy
and Teresa Alfonso
, a daughter of Alfonso VI of León. In December 1166 two Portuguese royal charters referred to Velasco as filius sororis eius, "his sister's son", him being the king of Portugal, Afonso I, son of Henry. Velasco married Urraca Viegas, daughter of Egas Moniz. She gave him one recorded son, Rodrigo.
Velasco was the court steward
(curiae dapifer) of Afonso of Portugal in August 1161. In that same year, just before going to war, and fearing that he might die without a chance to make a last confession, Velasco dictated his will, wherein he pledged the three villages he owned to three religious establishments: Barazas to the Hospitallers, Azarón to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
, and Coleo to the Cathedral of Santa María
. This will (which was not in any case final) also gives indication of Velasco's movable wealth. He later served as majordomo (dapifer) between March 1169 and July 1172. In March 1171 he was the standard-bearer
(signifer) of the infante Sancho
. Late in 1172 he went into exile at the court of Alfonso of Castile, who made him the governor of Ávila in April 1173. He was present at court from February 1173 until August 1174. That same month he moved to the court of Ferdinand of León, where he stayed until June 1181, perhaps until his death.
Ferdinand immediately invested him with the government of Extremadura
as a fief (tenencia) of the crown. Extremadura was a frontier tenencia in the south of the kingdom. By January 1176 he was also governing the Limia
, a Galician tenencia in the north of the kingdom. In August 1177 he was governing Cubillas
and Medina del Campo
and in October Monforte de Lemos
. Between February 1178 to February 1180 he was the governor of the Bierzo (and eventually Ulver), although his government may have been briefly interrupted by Alfonso Ramírez
in July 1178, when he was briefly in charge of Toroño. In September 1178 he was governing Ciudad Rodrigo
. Coinciding with this he lost the government of Extremadura, but gained that of Salamanca
(until February 1179). The last post Velasco got was Zamora
, which he governed from July 1180 until his death. Among the lesser fiefs governed by Velasco on behalf of the crown of León were Toro
(March 1175) and Valdeorras
(August 1180).
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1153–1181) was an Iberian nobleman who held various political and military offices under Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...
, Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...
, and 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...
. He held the high 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...
from at least May 1159.
Velasco's family hailed from Galicia. He was a son of Sancho Núñez and Sancha Enríquez. Sancho was a son of Nuño Velázquez and brother of Alfonso Núñez
Alfonso Núñez
Alfonso Núñez was a Galician nobleman and military leader.He was the eldest son of Nuño Velázquez and Fronilde Sánchez. From at least 28 January 1090 Nuño's power lay in the region of Limia. His children—Alfonso, Menendo, Sancho, and Elvira—appear beside him in a donation to the monastery of...
. Sancha was a daughter of Henry of Burgundy
Henry, Count of Portugal
Henry of Burgundy, Count of Portugal was Count of Portugal from 1093 to his death. He was brother of Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, all sons of Henry, the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. His name is Henri in modern French, Henricus in Latin, Enrique in modern Spanish...
and Teresa Alfonso
Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Theresa of Portugal was the first ruler of independent Portugal...
, a daughter of Alfonso VI of León. In December 1166 two Portuguese royal charters referred to Velasco as filius sororis eius, "his sister's son", him being the king of Portugal, Afonso I, son of Henry. Velasco married Urraca Viegas, daughter of Egas Moniz. She gave him one recorded son, Rodrigo.
Velasco was the court steward
Stewardship
Stewardship is an ethic that embodies responsible planning and management of resources. The concept of stewardship has been applied in diverse realms, including with respect to environment, economics, health, property, information, and religion, and is linked to the concept of sustainability...
(curiae dapifer) of Afonso of Portugal in August 1161. In that same year, just before going to war, and fearing that he might die without a chance to make a last confession, Velasco dictated his will, wherein he pledged the three villages he owned to three religious establishments: Barazas to the Hospitallers, Azarón to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
, and Coleo to the Cathedral of Santa María
Old Cathedral, Salamanca
The Old Cathedral is one of two cathedrals in Salamanca, Spain, the other being the New Cathedral of Salamanca....
. This will (which was not in any case final) also gives indication of Velasco's movable wealth. He later served as majordomo (dapifer) between March 1169 and July 1172. In March 1171 he was the standard-bearer
Standard-bearer
A standard-bearer is a person who bears an emblem called an ensign or standard, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used as a formal, visual symbol of a state, prince, military unit, etc.This can either be an occasional duty, often seen as an honour , or a...
(signifer) of the infante Sancho
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
. Late in 1172 he went into exile at the court of Alfonso of Castile, who made him the governor of Ávila in April 1173. He was present at court from February 1173 until August 1174. That same month he moved to the court of Ferdinand of León, where he stayed until June 1181, perhaps until his death.
Ferdinand immediately invested him with the government of 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...
as a fief (tenencia) of the crown. Extremadura was a frontier tenencia in the south of the kingdom. By January 1176 he was also governing 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....
, a Galician tenencia in the north of the kingdom. In August 1177 he was governing Cubillas
Cubillas de Santa Marta
Cubillas de Santa Marta is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 292 inhabitants....
and Medina del Campo
Medina del Campo
Medina del Campo is a town located in the middle of the Spanish Meseta Central, in the province of Valladolid, Castile-Leon autonomous region, 45 km from Valladolid. It is the capital of a farming area, far away from the great economic centres.-History:...
and in October 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...
. Between February 1178 to February 1180 he was the governor of the Bierzo (and eventually Ulver), although his government may have been briefly interrupted by Alfonso Ramírez
Alfonso Ramírez (count)
Alfonso Ramírez was a Spanish nobleman of the Kingdom of León, who ruled the Bierzo intermittently between 1167 and his death....
in July 1178, when he was briefly in charge of Toroño. In September 1178 he was governing Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo is a small cathedral city in the province of Salamanca, in western Spain, with a population of about 14,000. It is the seat of a judicial district as well....
. Coinciding with this he lost the government of Extremadura, but gained that of 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...
(until February 1179). The last post Velasco got was 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...
, which he governed from July 1180 until his death. Among the lesser fiefs governed by Velasco on behalf of the crown of León were Toro
Toro, Zamora
Toro is a town and municipality in the province of Zamora, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is located on a fertile high plain, northwest of Madrid at an elevation of 740 meters....
(March 1175) and Valdeorras
Valdeorras
Valdeorras is a comarca in the Galician Province of Ourense. The overall population of this local region is 28,984 .-Municipalities:*O Barco de Valdeorras, capital of the comarca*O Bolo*Carballeda de Valdeorras*Larouco* Petín* A Rúa* Rubiá...
(August 1180).
Further reading
- Mattoso, J. Ricos-homens, infanções e cavaleiros: a nobreza medieval portuguesa nos séculos XI e XII. Lisbon: 1985.
- Mattoso, J. A nobreza medieval portuguesa: a família e o poder. Lisbon: 1987.