Talesa of Aragon
Encyclopedia
Talesa, Talèse, Talèze, or Ataresa (died after 1136) was an Aragonese
noblewoman and relative of the royal Jiménez dynasty
. She was the daughter of Sancho, Count of Aibar, natural brother of Sancho V of Navarre. She married Gaston IV of Béarn
and acted as regent of the viscounty of Béarn
during his absences on Crusade and after his death for their son.
She was married towards 1085 in a move by Gaston's father Centule V of Béarn
to expand his influence across the Pyrenees
by allying himself with the ruling house of Aragon
and Navarre
. She brought as a dowry the viscounty of Montaner
, a small country in the neighbourhood of Bigorre
.
Between 1096 and 1101, while Gaston participated in the First Crusade
, Talesa governed Béarn with the help of a baronial council. This scenario was repeated several times more during her husband's frequent military ventures in Aragon. Like many of her day, she found her way into historical records primarily through the foundation and endowment of religious establishments.
On the death of Gaston in 1131, Talesa took up the regency for her young son Centule VI
. Centule died in the Battle of Fraga in 1134 and the viscounty passed to the son, Peter II
, of Guiscarda
, Talesa and Gaston's eldest daughter. Peter II being a mere boy, Talesa continued in the regency for him.
In that same year, Aragon and Navarre experienced a succession crisis, as Talesa's cousin Alfonso the Battler
died without heirs and leaving a testament by which his realm was to pass to the military religious orders. The two kingdoms split and the throne of Aragon was contested by Ramiro the Monk
, the dead king's brother, and Alfonso VII of León
, a more distant relative. Talesa sided with Ramiro, who in turn surrendered to her the lordships of (a part of) Zaragoza
and Uncastillo
which he had inherited from Gaston. After papal intervention, the conflict was finally settled in favour of Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona, who, to recover good relations with Béarn, granted Talesa the fiefs of Huesca
and Bespen with rights over the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
in Zaragoza, where Gaston lay buried. He also gave Peter II a Catalan princess for a bride and thus brought Béarn within the Catalan sphere of influence.
Talesa died sometime after 1136. Aside from Centule and Guiscarda, she had another daughter who died young and is only known from a first initial, N. She also had a first son named Centule who died before 1128, predeceasing Gaston's heir.
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
noblewoman and relative of the royal Jiménez dynasty
Jiménez dynasty
The Jiménez or Ximenes were an Iberian ruling family from the 10th century to the 13th century. They were the first Europeanisers of Spain and brought her back within the wider European political scene while also giving her the political character and division that persisted until the end of the...
. She was the daughter of Sancho, Count of Aibar, natural brother of Sancho V of Navarre. She married Gaston IV of Béarn
Gaston IV of Béarn
Gaston IV was viscount of Béarn from 1090 to 1131. He was called "le Croisé" due to his participation in the First Crusade....
and acted as regent of the viscounty of Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
during his absences on Crusade and after his death for their son.
She was married towards 1085 in a move by Gaston's father Centule V of Béarn
Centule V of Béarn
Centule V , called the Young, was the Viscount of Béarn from 1058 to his death. Centule increased the autonomy of the viscounts of Béarn and distanced them from the dukes of Aquitaine, to whom they owed theoretical vassalage...
to expand his influence across the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
by allying himself with the ruling house of Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
and 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....
. She brought as a dowry the viscounty of Montaner
Montaner
Montaner is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.-References:*...
, a small country in the neighbourhood of Bigorre
Bigorre
Bigorre is region in southwest France, historically an independent county and later a French province, located in the upper watershed of the Adour, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, part of the larger region known as Gascony...
.
Between 1096 and 1101, while Gaston participated in the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, Talesa governed Béarn with the help of a baronial council. This scenario was repeated several times more during her husband's frequent military ventures in Aragon. Like many of her day, she found her way into historical records primarily through the foundation and endowment of religious establishments.
On the death of Gaston in 1131, Talesa took up the regency for her young son Centule VI
Centule VI of Béarn
Centule VI was the Viscount of Béarn from 1131 to his death. Like his father, he was an ideal Christian prince for his age, ready to serve the Church in the Reconquista....
. Centule died in the Battle of Fraga in 1134 and the viscounty passed to the son, Peter II
Peter II of Béarn
Peter II was the Viscount of Béarn from 1134 to his death. He was also the viscount of Gabardan, Brulhois, and Gabarret ....
, of Guiscarda
Guiscarda of Béarn
Guiscarda was the eldest child of Gaston IV of Béarn and Talesa of Aragon. She later succeeded her younger brother Centule VI as viscountess in 1134....
, Talesa and Gaston's eldest daughter. Peter II being a mere boy, Talesa continued in the regency for him.
In that same year, Aragon and Navarre experienced a succession crisis, as Talesa's cousin Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso I , called the Battler or the Warrior , was the king of Aragon and Navarre from 1104 until his death in 1134. He was the second son of King Sancho Ramírez and successor of his brother Peter I...
died without heirs and leaving a testament by which his realm was to pass to the military religious orders. The two kingdoms split and the throne of Aragon was contested by Ramiro the Monk
Ramiro II of Aragon
Ramiro II , called the Monk, was King of Aragon from 1134 until withdrawing from public life in 1137...
, the dead king's brother, and Alfonso VII of León
Alfonso VII of León
Alfonso VII , born Alfonso Raimúndez, called the Emperor , became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126. Alfonso first used the title Emperor of All Spain, alongside his mother Urraca, once his mother vested him with the direct rule of Toledo in 1116...
, a more distant relative. Talesa sided with Ramiro, who in turn surrendered to her the lordships of (a part of) Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
and Uncastillo
Uncastillo
Uncastillo is a municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, eastern Spain. According to the 2010 census, the municipality has a population of 781 inhabitants....
which he had inherited from Gaston. After papal intervention, the conflict was finally settled in favour of Raymond Berengar IV of Barcelona, who, to recover good relations with Béarn, granted Talesa the fiefs of Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
and Bespen with rights over the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
The Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. The Basilica venerates Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar praised as Mother of the Hispanic Peoples by Pope John Paul II...
in Zaragoza, where Gaston lay buried. He also gave Peter II a Catalan princess for a bride and thus brought Béarn within the Catalan sphere of influence.
Talesa died sometime after 1136. Aside from Centule and Guiscarda, she had another daughter who died young and is only known from a first initial, N. She also had a first son named Centule who died before 1128, predeceasing Gaston's heir.
Sources
- Tucoo-Chala, Pierre. Quand l'Islam était aux portes des Pyrénées. Biarrtiz: J&D Editions, 1994. ISBN 2 84127 022 X.