Urraca of Castile, Queen of Navarre
Encyclopedia
Urraca Alfonso of Castile-León (Pelúgano
, 1132 – Palencia
, 26 October 1164?), also known as Urraca the Asturian (La Asturiana), was the regent of the Asturias from 1153 to 1164. She was an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and his mistress Guntroda Pérez. Despite her illegitimacy, she became Queen Consort of Navarre by her marriage to García Ramírez of Navarre in 1144.
. She was raised by her aunt Sancha. Her parents separated a year after Urraca's birth and her mother joined a convent.
Urraca was the eldest child of her father, albeit illegitimate. His wife Berengaria of Barcelona did not give birth to her first child until 1133 or 1134, about two years after Urraca's birth. This child was Sancho III of Castile
. Urraca gained more legitimate half-siblings, including: Ferdinand II of León
, Constance, Queen of France
, Sancha, Queen of Navarre
and by her father's second marriage to Richeza of Poland: Sancha, Queen of Aragon.
Urraca's paternal grandparents were Raymond of Burgundy
and Urraca of León and Castile; her maternal grandparents were Don Pedro Díaz and his wife Doña Maria Ordóñez.
on 24 June 1144 to García Ramírez of Navarre. This was a second marriage for Garcia as his first troubled marriage to Marguerite de l'Aigle
had ended with her death just a month before Garcia's second marriage to Urraca. The marriage was to strengthen Garcia's relationship with his overlord (Urraca's father).
From the marriage, García also became a brother-in-law of Raymond Berengar IV, Count of Barcelona, with whom he confirmed a peace treaty in 1149. The Count of Barcelona was promised to Blanca, García's daughter by Marguerite de l'Aigle, but he was already engaged to Petronilla of Aragon. However, García died before the marriage could take place.
The couple were married for only six years before Garcia's death on 21 November 1150. They had a daughter:
Garcia was succeeded by his son with Marguerite de l'Aigle, Sancho IV of Navarre
. Urraca's half-sister Sancha
married Sancho and succeeded her as Queen Consort of Navarre.
. In Oviedo
, Urraca took up residence in the Palace of Alfonso II of Asturias
, which was next to the Cathedral of Oviedo. Her father gave her properties, including the Aller Séñorío. Queen Urraca ruled the Asturias from 1153 until 1164; she even retained power after the death of her father in 1157. However, Urraca ruled in right of her father and brother, as the region of Asturias was part of the Kingdom of Castile
. This period was highlighted by their generosity with the Church in the Asturias, to which they made numerous donations, notably those at the Cathedral of Oviedo, as well as those made to the monastery of San Pelayo de Oviedo.
Urraca and her mother even founded the monastery of Santa María de la Vega. Her mother was buried there in a tomb whose marker is currently preserved in the Archaeological Museum of the Asturias.
Sometime before 1163, Urraca remarried to Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro. They had two children:
She was buried in the chapel of Santa María Magdalena in the Cathedral of Palencia.
Pelúgano
Pelúgano is one of 18 parishes in Aller, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The altitude is above sea level...
, 1132 – Palencia
Palencia
Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...
, 26 October 1164?), also known as Urraca the Asturian (La Asturiana), was the regent of the Asturias from 1153 to 1164. She was an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso VII of León and Castile and his mistress Guntroda Pérez. Despite her illegitimacy, she became Queen Consort of Navarre by her marriage to García Ramírez of Navarre in 1144.
Early Life and Family
Urraca was born in 1132, at PelúganoPelúgano
Pelúgano is one of 18 parishes in Aller, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The altitude is above sea level...
. She was raised by her aunt Sancha. Her parents separated a year after Urraca's birth and her mother joined a convent.
Urraca was the eldest child of her father, albeit illegitimate. His wife Berengaria of Barcelona did not give birth to her first child until 1133 or 1134, about two years after Urraca's birth. This child was Sancho III of Castile
Sancho III of Castile
Sancho III was King of Castile and Toledo for one year, from 1157 to 1158. During the Reconquista, in which he took an active part, he founded the Order of Calatrava...
. Urraca gained more legitimate half-siblings, including: 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...
, Constance, Queen of France
Constance of Castile
Constance of Castile may refer to:* Constance of Castile, wife of Louis VII of France* Constance of Penafiel , wife of Alfonso XI of Castile and Peter I of Portugal* Infanta Constance of Castile, claimant to the throne of Castile...
, Sancha, Queen of Navarre
Sancha of Castile, Queen of Navarre
Sancha of Castile was daughter of Alfonso VII of León and Castile and his first wife Berenguela of Barcelona. She was a member of the Castilian House of Burgundy....
and by her father's second marriage to Richeza of Poland: Sancha, Queen of Aragon.
Urraca's paternal grandparents were Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy
Raymond of Burgundy was the fourth son of William I, Count of Burgundy, and was Count of Amous. He came to the Iberian Peninsula for the first time during the period 1086–1087 with Odo I, Duke of Burgundy...
and Urraca of León and Castile; her maternal grandparents were Don Pedro Díaz and his wife Doña Maria Ordóñez.
Queen consort of Navarre
Urraca was first married in LeónLeón, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
on 24 June 1144 to García Ramírez of Navarre. This was a second marriage for Garcia as his first troubled marriage to Marguerite de l'Aigle
Marguerite de l'Aigle
Marguerite de l'Aigle was a daughter of Gilbert de l'Aigle, Seigneur de l'Aigle and his wife Juliana du Perche. She was Queen consort of Navarre, by her marriage to García Ramírez of Navarre.- Family :...
had ended with her death just a month before Garcia's second marriage to Urraca. The marriage was to strengthen Garcia's relationship with his overlord (Urraca's father).
From the marriage, García also became a brother-in-law of Raymond Berengar IV, Count of Barcelona, with whom he confirmed a peace treaty in 1149. The Count of Barcelona was promised to Blanca, García's daughter by Marguerite de l'Aigle, but he was already engaged to Petronilla of Aragon. However, García died before the marriage could take place.
The couple were married for only six years before Garcia's death on 21 November 1150. They had a daughter:
- Sancha (1148–1176), married first to Gaston V of BéarnGaston V of BéarnGaston V was the Viscount of Béarn, Gabardan, and Brulhois from 1153 to his death.He was the son of Peter II and a Catalan princess. When his father died in 1153, he inherited his title under the regency of his grandmother Guiscarda...
and secondly to Pedro de Lara.
Garcia was succeeded by his son with Marguerite de l'Aigle, Sancho IV of Navarre
Sancho IV of Navarre
Sancho IV Garcés , called Sancho of Peñalén or Sancho the Noble, was King of Navarre from 1054 to 1076. He was the eldest son and heir of García Sánchez III and Estefanía....
. Urraca's half-sister Sancha
Sancha of Castile, Queen of Navarre
Sancha of Castile was daughter of Alfonso VII of León and Castile and his first wife Berenguela of Barcelona. She was a member of the Castilian House of Burgundy....
married Sancho and succeeded her as Queen Consort of Navarre.
Regent of the Asturias
The Queen Dowager Urraca returned to her homeland after her husband Garcia's death in 1150, being sent by her father to rule over the AsturiasAsturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
. In Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Urraca took up residence in the Palace of Alfonso II of Asturias
Alfonso II of Asturias
Alfonso II , called the Chaste, was the king of Asturias from 791 to his death, the son of Fruela I and the Basque Munia.He was born in Oviedo in 759 or 760. He was put under the guardianship of his aunt Adosinda after his father's death, but one tradition relates his being put in the monastery of...
, which was next to the Cathedral of Oviedo. Her father gave her properties, including the Aller Séñorío. Queen Urraca ruled the Asturias from 1153 until 1164; she even retained power after the death of her father in 1157. However, Urraca ruled in right of her father and brother, as the region of Asturias was part of the Kingdom of Castile
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...
. This period was highlighted by their generosity with the Church in the Asturias, to which they made numerous donations, notably those at the Cathedral of Oviedo, as well as those made to the monastery of San Pelayo de Oviedo.
Urraca and her mother even founded the monastery of Santa María de la Vega. Her mother was buried there in a tomb whose marker is currently preserved in the Archaeological Museum of the Asturias.
Sometime before 1163, Urraca remarried to Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro. They had two children:
- Don Sancho Álvarez de Castro (c.1164-after 1196)
- Doña Elo Álvarez de Castro (-after September 1195), unmarried
Death
Urraca died in the Asturias sometime after 1164 but the exact date of her death is unknown. Some chroniclers placed her death on October 26, 1164, but this is impossible, since she appeared in the monastery of Santa María de Sandoval on 25 February 1178 and made a donation of various farms. Others argue that Urraca did not die until year 1189. The Annals of Toledo place her death in 1179.She was buried in the chapel of Santa María Magdalena in the Cathedral of Palencia.