Bermudo II of León
Encyclopedia
Bermudo II (956–999), called the Gouty , was the King of Galicia
(982–999) and León (984–999). His reign is summed up by Justo Pérez de Urbel's description of him as "el pobre rey atormentado en la vida por la espada de Almanzor y en muerte por la pluma vengadora de un obispo" (the poor king tormented in life by the sword of Almanzor and in death by the vengeful pen of a bishop).
A son of Ordoño III
, he was raised by the nobility against the king Ramiro III
, a son of Sancho I
, in Galicia and Portugal in 982. This usurpation is usually seen in the context of ongoing succession crises since the 950s. When Bermudo succeeded to the throne the two parties were led by Gonzalo Menéndez
—supporter of Bermudo—and Rodrigo Velázquez
and his son Pelayo Rodríguez
—supporters of Ramiro III. Bermudo was crowned in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
on 15 October 982. Opposition from Pelayo, then bishop of Santiago, and by Arias Peláez, Bishop of Mondoñedo, may have caused their exile, to Celanova and San Martín de Lalín respectively, at this same time.
Because his support was limited and regional Bermudo required the protection of the Caliphate of Córdoba
. There was much unrest in Castile in his early years and the Cordoban armies of Almanzor came, not as allies, but as conquerors. Between November 991 and September 992 Vermudo was expelled from the kingdom by a revolt led by the magnates Gonzalo Vermúdez, Munio Fernández, and count Pelayo Rodríguez
. He was soon restored and reconciled to the discontents. On 8 August 994 Bermudo gave the village of Veiga to the monastery of Celanova, the village having been built by Suario Gundemárez on land illegally appropriated from the monastery. Suario took refuge there during his later rebellion. On 23 August that year the village of Morella
was granted to abbot Salvato of Celanova after it was confiscated because the murder of Fortún Velázquez had taken place there.
Bermudo eventually succeeded in recovering Zamora from the Muslims, but did not succeed in expelling them totally until 987. This brought on the reprisals of Almanzor, who set out to destroy Coimbra
. After the latter besieged and razed the city of León, Bermudo took refuge in Zamora. The Muslims continued their conquests, taking Astorga
(996) and sacking Santiago de Compostela
(997).
In 999, the gout from which he suffered was aggravated and it became impossible for him to ride a horse. Military leader of Christians of northwestern Spain, he subsequently travelled by litter. Later that same year he died in Villanueva del Bierzo and was buried in the Monastery of Carracedo
. Later, his remains were transferred to the Cathedral of León.
By his first wife, Velasquita Ramírez, he left a daughter, Cristina, who married Ordoño Ramírez, son of his rival Ramiro III. Vermudo married secondly Elvira García
, daughter of the Castilian count García Fernández, with whom he had three children: Alfonso
, who succeeded him; Theresa; and Sancha. He also had three bastards: Elvira, Pelayo, and Ordoño, who married Fronilde, daughter of the aforementioned count Pelayo.
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...
(982–999) and León (984–999). His reign is summed up by Justo Pérez de Urbel's description of him as "el pobre rey atormentado en la vida por la espada de Almanzor y en muerte por la pluma vengadora de un obispo" (the poor king tormented in life by the sword of Almanzor and in death by the vengeful pen of a bishop).
A son of 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....
, he was raised by the nobility against the king Ramiro III
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...
, a son of Sancho I
Sancho I of León
Sancho I , called the Fat, was the son of King Ramiro II of León. He succeeded his half-brother Ordoño III in 956 and reigned until his death, except for a two year interruption from 958 to 960, when Ordoño the Wicked usurped the throne...
, in Galicia and Portugal in 982. This usurpation is usually seen in the context of ongoing succession crises since the 950s. When Bermudo succeeded to the throne the two parties were led by Gonzalo Menéndez
Gonzalo Menéndez
Gonzalo Menéndez was a Count of Portugal in the Kingdom of León. He regularly carries the title count , the highest in the kingdom, in surviving documents. He may have used the title magnus dux portucalensium...
—supporter of Bermudo—and Rodrigo Velázquez
Rodrigo Velázquez
Rodrigo Velázquez , the son of a certain Velasco and his wife Trudilde, was an important magnate of Galicia during the reigns of Ramiro II, Ordoño III, Sancho I, and Ramiro III. He used the title dux , the highest in Galicia at the time, and he even treated diplomatically with the Caliphate of...
and his son Pelayo Rodríguez
Pelayo Rodríguez (bishop)
Pelayo Rodríguez was the Bishop of Iria Flavia . He was a son of the powerful magnate Rodrigo Velázquez and his wife Adosinda and is usually associated with the conflicts surrounding the accession of Vermudo II after a Galician rebellion in 982.-Episcopal election:There is disagreement in the...
—supporters of Ramiro III. Bermudo was crowned in 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...
on 15 October 982. Opposition from Pelayo, then bishop of Santiago, and by Arias Peláez, Bishop of Mondoñedo, may have caused their exile, to Celanova and San Martín de Lalín respectively, at this same time.
Because his support was limited and regional Bermudo required the protection of 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...
. There was much unrest in Castile in his early years and the Cordoban armies of Almanzor came, not as allies, but as conquerors. Between November 991 and September 992 Vermudo was expelled from the kingdom by a revolt led by the magnates Gonzalo Vermúdez, Munio Fernández, and count Pelayo Rodríguez
Pelayo Rodríguez (count)
Pelayo Rodríguez was an important magnate and a count of the Kingdom of León and a common presence at the courts of Vermudo II and Alfonso V ....
. He was soon restored and reconciled to the discontents. On 8 August 994 Bermudo gave the village of Veiga to the monastery of Celanova, the village having been built by Suario Gundemárez on land illegally appropriated from the monastery. Suario took refuge there during his later rebellion. On 23 August that year the village of Morella
Morella
"Morella" is a short story in the Gothic horror genre by 19th-century American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe.-Plot summary:An unnamed narrator marries Morella, a woman with great scholarly knowledge who delves into studies of the German philosophers Fichte and Schelling, dealing with the...
was granted to abbot Salvato of Celanova after it was confiscated because the murder of Fortún Velázquez had taken place there.
Bermudo eventually succeeded in recovering Zamora from the Muslims, but did not succeed in expelling them totally until 987. This brought on the reprisals of Almanzor, who set out to destroy Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. After the latter besieged and razed the city of León, Bermudo took refuge in Zamora. The Muslims continued their conquests, taking Astorga
Astorga, Spain
Astorga is a town in the province of León, northern Spain. It lies southwest of the provincial capital of León, and is the head of the council of La Maragatería. The river Tuerto flows through it. , its population was about 12,100 people....
(996) and sacking Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
(997).
In 999, the gout from which he suffered was aggravated and it became impossible for him to ride a horse. Military leader of Christians of northwestern Spain, he subsequently travelled by litter. Later that same year he died in Villanueva del Bierzo and was buried in the Monastery of Carracedo
Monastery of Carracedo
The Monastery of Saint Mary of Carracedo or the Monasterio de Santa María de Carracedo is an inactive abbey and palace complex, now in semi-restored state near the town of Carracedelo, province of León, Castile and León, Spain...
. Later, his remains were transferred to the Cathedral of León.
By his first wife, Velasquita Ramírez, he left a daughter, Cristina, who married Ordoño Ramírez, son of his rival Ramiro III. Vermudo married secondly Elvira García
Elvira García of Castile
Elvira García of Castile was the daughter of García Fernández of Castile and Ava de Ribagorza.She married to Bermudo II of León and had three children from this marriage: Alfonso, Theresa, and Sancha....
, daughter of the Castilian count García Fernández, with whom he had three children: Alfonso
Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V , called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile. The Abbot Oliva called him "Emperor of Spain"....
, who succeeded him; Theresa; and Sancha. He also had three bastards: Elvira, Pelayo, and Ordoño, who married Fronilde, daughter of the aforementioned count Pelayo.