Nuño Álvarez de Carazo
Encyclopedia
Nuño Álvarez de Carazo was a Castilian
nobleman, diplomat, and warrior. Throughout his career he maintained important relations with the Kingdom of Navarre
, which his lands and lordships bordered.
There were at least three persons named "Nuño Álvarez" in mid eleventh-century Castile. Nuño Álvarez de Carazo appears in sixteen documents between 1033 and 1054 with the honorific duenno or domno
and two with the territorial appellation de Carazo. He was the eldest of his brothers and may have been the maternal great uncle of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, his brother Rodrigo being the father of Rodrigo Díaz's mother. Since Nuño's brother Diego and sister Mamadona held land at Carazo and Lara de los Infantes
, it seems likely that Nuño's lordship in this region was based on familial estates and patrimonial lands. Carazo is not particularly near the border with Navarre, but it is probable that the land between them was sparsely populated. The lowlands near where the river Arlanza entered the Arlanzón
were probably part of his lordship, and Nuño possessed properties in Peñalba
and Vilviestre del Pinar
halfway between Carazo and Navarre. Nuño's importance in the frontier region southeast of Burgos
is apparent in the archives of the monasteries of San Pedro de Arlanza and San Pedro de Cardeña. Nuño also had properties in La Bureba
, including at Ibeas de Juarros
and perhaps at Oca
.
In 1016 Sancho III of Navarre
and Sancho García of Castile established by agreement the border between their respective realms. Sometime later, probably between 1030 and 1035, Nuño Álvarez and his neighbour across the border in Navarre, Fortún Ochoiz
, re-confirmed the division and the frontier. This act, confirming only the border as it passed through the Sierra de la Demanda, is preserved in a short notice in a document from the Becerro Galicano, a cartulary of the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. It is the only record of the division of 1016, only the surveying for which was perhaps undertaken, the hypothetical treaty never being drawn up or confirmed. It is also possible that Nuño and Fortún confirmed the old frontier in an act of rebellion, without authority from their respective lords. Nuño had other relations with Navarre after La Bureba
, which was part of Castella Vetula (Old Castile), was allotted to Navarre on the division of Sancho III's realm (1035). Four times Nuño visited the court of García Sánchez III of Navarre when it visited Oña
, the capital of Castella Vetula and the place of Sancho III's burial. The Navarrese scribes referred to him and the other visiting Castilians the phrase isti sunt castellani ("these are Castilians") and relegated them to the bottom of witness lists. This can be explained by his allegiance to Ferdinand I of Castile, who was often at odds with his brother García.
Nuño probably died fighting alongside his king against the king of Navarre at the Battle of Atapuerca
in 1054, where his brother Fortún probably also died.
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
nobleman, diplomat, and warrior. Throughout his career he maintained important relations with the Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
, which his lands and lordships bordered.
There were at least three persons named "Nuño Álvarez" in mid eleventh-century Castile. Nuño Álvarez de Carazo appears in sixteen documents between 1033 and 1054 with the honorific duenno or domno
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
and two with the territorial appellation de Carazo. He was the eldest of his brothers and may have been the maternal great uncle of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, his brother Rodrigo being the father of Rodrigo Díaz's mother. Since Nuño's brother Diego and sister Mamadona held land at Carazo and Lara de los Infantes
Lara de los Infantes
Lara de los Infantes is a location with 26 inhabitants in the province of Burgos in the autonomous region of Castille y León in Spain.It is the headquarters of the municipio of Jurisdicción de Lara, which includes a few more inhabitants as it includes other localities like Paúles de Lara , and La...
, it seems likely that Nuño's lordship in this region was based on familial estates and patrimonial lands. Carazo is not particularly near the border with Navarre, but it is probable that the land between them was sparsely populated. The lowlands near where the river Arlanza entered the Arlanzón
Arlanzón
Arlanzón is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 411 inhabitants....
were probably part of his lordship, and Nuño possessed properties in Peñalba
Peñalba
Peñalba is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 742 inhabitants.http://www.penalba.es/index.php[Original in Spanish]...
and Vilviestre del Pinar
Vilviestre del Pinar
Vilviestre del Pinar is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 751 inhabitants....
halfway between Carazo and Navarre. Nuño's importance in the frontier region southeast of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
is apparent in the archives of the monasteries of San Pedro de Arlanza and San Pedro de Cardeña. Nuño also had properties in La Bureba
La Bureba
La Bureba is a comarca in the northeast of the Province of Burgos in Castilla–León, Spain. It is criss-crossed by several small rivers and arroyos that empty into the Ebro: the Homino, Oroncillo, Oca, and Tirón.-Geography:...
, including at Ibeas de Juarros
Ibeas de Juarros
Ibeas de Juarros is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,192 inhabitants. It is near the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site....
and perhaps at Oca
Oca
Oxalis tuberosa is an herbaceous perennial plant that overwinters as underground stem tubers. These tubers are known as oca, oka, or New Zealand Yam. The plant was brought into cultivation in the central and southern Andes for its tubers, which are used as a root vegetable...
.
In 1016 Sancho III of Navarre
Sancho III of Navarre
Sancho 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...
and Sancho García of Castile established by agreement the border between their respective realms. Sometime later, probably between 1030 and 1035, Nuño Álvarez and his neighbour across the border in Navarre, Fortún Ochoiz
Fortún Ochoiz
Fortún Ochoiz was a Navarrese nobleman, diplomat, and statesman. Throughout his known career he held the tenencia of La Rioja, an important marcher lordship, the rump of the Kingdom of Viguera, and the foundation for the Lordship of Los Cameros...
, re-confirmed the division and the frontier. This act, confirming only the border as it passed through the Sierra de la Demanda, is preserved in a short notice in a document from the Becerro Galicano, a cartulary of the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. It is the only record of the division of 1016, only the surveying for which was perhaps undertaken, the hypothetical treaty never being drawn up or confirmed. It is also possible that Nuño and Fortún confirmed the old frontier in an act of rebellion, without authority from their respective lords. Nuño had other relations with Navarre after La Bureba
La Bureba
La Bureba is a comarca in the northeast of the Province of Burgos in Castilla–León, Spain. It is criss-crossed by several small rivers and arroyos that empty into the Ebro: the Homino, Oroncillo, Oca, and Tirón.-Geography:...
, which was part of Castella Vetula (Old Castile), was allotted to Navarre on the division of Sancho III's realm (1035). Four times Nuño visited the court of García Sánchez III of Navarre when it visited Oña
Oña
Oña is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the municipality has a population of 1,256 inhabitants.It is home to the monastery of San Salvador de Oña....
, the capital of Castella Vetula and the place of Sancho III's burial. The Navarrese scribes referred to him and the other visiting Castilians the phrase isti sunt castellani ("these are Castilians") and relegated them to the bottom of witness lists. This can be explained by his allegiance to Ferdinand I of Castile, who was often at odds with his brother García.
Nuño probably died fighting alongside his king against the king of Navarre at the Battle of Atapuerca
Battle of Atapuerca
The Battle of Atapuerca was fought in 1 September 1054 at the site of Piedrahita in the valley of Atapuerca between brothers King García Sánchez III, El de Nájera, of Navarre and King Ferdinand I, the Great, of Castile and León....
in 1054, where his brother Fortún probably also died.
External links
- Early Spanish Nobility: Chapter 7. Family of El Cid Campeador, Part B (Maternal Ancestors) at the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy's Medieval Lands Project.