García II of Galicia and Portugal
Encyclopedia
García II King of Galicia and Portugal
, was the youngest of the three sons and heirs of Ferdinand I
, King of Castile and León, and Sancha of León
, whose Leonese inheritance included the lands García would be given.
In the 1065 division of his father's estates, García was given the Galicia
, including the County of Portugal
, as well as the right to parias
from the Taifa
s of Badajoz
and Seville
. Calling himself 'King of Galicia and Portugal', he thus becoming the first to use the title King of Portugal. His power in the south of his polity was somewhat limited until 1071, when he defeated rebel Portuguese Count Nuno Mendes in the Battle of Pedroso
. However, shortly after this victory, his brothers united against him and forced García to flee to Seville, partitioned his kingdom between them.
Sancho then annexed the remainder of what had been García's kingdom along with the rest of Alfonso's Kingdom of León
but was assassinated in 1072. The reunited kingdom of their father passed to Alfonso, and García then returned from his exile. It is unclear if he hoped to reestablish himself in his kingdom or had been misled by promises of safety from Alfonso, but García was immediately imprisoned in a monastery where he remained until his death sometime around 1090.
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...
, was the youngest of the three sons and heirs of Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I of León
Ferdinand I , called the Great , was the Count of Castile from his uncle's death in 1029 and the King of León after defeating his brother-in-law in 1037. According to tradition, he was the first to have himself crowned Emperor of Spain , and his heirs carried on the tradition...
, King of Castile and León, and Sancha of León
Sancha of León
Sancha of León was a daughter of Alfonso V of León by Elvira Mendes and Queen consort of León and Castile. In 1029, a political marriage was arranged between her and count García Sánchez of Castile. However, having traveled to León for the marriage, García was assassinated by a group of...
, whose Leonese inheritance included the lands García would be given.
In the 1065 division of his father's estates, García was given the Galicia
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...
, including the County of Portugal
County of Portugal
The County of Portugal was the region around Braga and Porto, today corresponding to littoral northern Portugal, from the late ninth to the early twelfth century, during which it was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León.-History:...
, as well as the right to parias
Parias
In medieval Spain, parias were a form of tribute paid by the taifas of al-Andalus to the Christian kingdoms of the north...
from the Taifa
Taifa
In the history of the Iberian Peninsula, a taifa was an independent Muslim-ruled principality, usually an emirate or petty kingdom, though there was one oligarchy, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031.-Rise:The origins of...
s of Badajoz
Taifa of Badajoz
The Taifa of Badajoz was a medieval Muslim kingdom in what is now parts of Portugal and Spain and centred on the city of Badajoz which exists today as the first city of Extremadura, in Spain....
and Seville
Taifa of Seville
The Taifa of Seville was a short lived medieval kingdom, in what is now southern Spain and Portugal. It originated in 1023 and lasted until 1091, and was under the rule of the Arab Abbadid family.-History:...
. Calling himself 'King of Galicia and Portugal', he thus becoming the first to use the title King of Portugal. His power in the south of his polity was somewhat limited until 1071, when he defeated rebel Portuguese Count Nuno Mendes in the Battle of Pedroso
Battle of Pedroso
The Battle of Pedroso was fought in January, 1071 near present day Pedroso , Portugal.Forces under García II, the King of Galicia, defeated those under Nuno II Mendes, the last count of Portugal of the House of Vímara Peres. The battle resulted in the death of Nuno Mendes and Garcia II declaring...
. However, shortly after this victory, his brothers united against him and forced García to flee to Seville, partitioned his kingdom between them.
Sancho then annexed the remainder of what had been García's kingdom along with the rest of Alfonso's 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...
but was assassinated in 1072. The reunited kingdom of their father passed to Alfonso, and García then returned from his exile. It is unclear if he hoped to reestablish himself in his kingdom or had been misled by promises of safety from Alfonso, but García was immediately imprisoned in a monastery where he remained until his death sometime around 1090.