Álvaro Pérez de Lara
Encyclopedia
Álvaro Pérez de Lara was a nobleman of the Lara family. He was the youngest son of Pedro González de Lara
. His mother was Eva, who may have been a daughter of Pedro Froilaz de Traba
, or perhaps a Frenchwoman. She was originally married to García Ordóñez
, but was married to Pedro by November 1127 at the latest. Álvaro is mentioned in documents between 8 February 1141 and 10 May 1172. He held the tenencia of Aguilar de Campóo
for a long time early in his career (1146–65). He also patronised the Praemonstratensian monastery there. On 15 February 1149 he called himself filius comitis ("the count's son") in a document, perhaps to indicate his aspiration for a comital title. He is first recorded as a Count (Latin comes), the highest title granted in the kingdom, on 19 November 1166.
Early in 1160 he and his brothers Manrique
and Nuño
were defeated at the Battle of Lobregal
by the rival Castro family in one of the most violent aristocratic feuds of twelfth-century Spain. He was also present with his brothers at the Battle of Huete
in the summer of 1164, where the Laras were defeated by the Castros a second time and Manrique was killed. During the latter part of his career, Álvaro ruled Asturias de Santillana (1156–70) and briefly held the tenencia of Burgos
(1168), the top military post in the capital of Castile
. He also briefly held the tenencias of Grajal (1162) and Viesgo (1155).
Pedro González de Lara
Pedro González de Lara was a Castilian magnate. He served Alfonso VI as a young man, and later became the lover of Alfonso's heiress, Queen Urraca. He may have joined the First Crusade in the following of Raymond IV of Toulouse, earning the nickname el Romero...
. His mother was Eva, who may have been a daughter of Pedro Froilaz de Traba
Pedro Fróilaz de Traba
Pedro Fróilaz de Traba was the most powerful secular magnate in the Kingdom of Galicia during the first quarter of the twelfth century. According to the Historia compostelana, he was "spirited ... warlike ... of great power .....
, or perhaps a Frenchwoman. She was originally married to García Ordóñez
García Ordóñez
García Ordóñez , called de Nájera or de Cabra and in the epic literature Crispus or el Crespo de Grañón, was a Castilian magnate who ruled the Rioja from Nájera from 1080 until his death. He is famous in literature as the rival of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the Cid, whose high position at court he...
, but was married to Pedro by November 1127 at the latest. Álvaro is mentioned in documents between 8 February 1141 and 10 May 1172. He held the tenencia of Aguilar de Campóo
Aguilar de Campoo
Aguilar de Campoo is a town in the province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is close to the River Pisuerga.-History:In 1255 Alfonso X the Wise declared it Villa Realenga...
for a long time early in his career (1146–65). He also patronised the Praemonstratensian monastery there. On 15 February 1149 he called himself filius comitis ("the count's son") in a document, perhaps to indicate his aspiration for a comital title. He is first recorded as a Count (Latin comes), the highest title granted in the kingdom, on 19 November 1166.
Early in 1160 he and his brothers Manrique
Manrique Pérez de Lara
Manrique Pérez de Lara was a magnate of the Kingdom of Castile and its regent from 1158 until his death. He was one of the most important counsellors and generals of three successive Castilian monarchs: Alfonso VII , Sancho III and Alfonso VIII...
and Nuño
Nuño Pérez de Lara
Nuño Pérez de Lara was a Castilian nobleman, politician and military leader. He began his career at the court of the Emperor Alfonso VII, during whose reign he took part in the repoblación of the Extremadura and the defence of the Almohad frontier...
were defeated at the Battle of Lobregal
Battle of Lobregal
The Battle of Lobregal took place in March 1160 between the House of Lara and its allies and the forces of the House of Castro under Fernando Rodríguez de Castro...
by the rival Castro family in one of the most violent aristocratic feuds of twelfth-century Spain. He was also present with his brothers at the Battle of Huete
Battle of Huete
The Battle of Huete took place in 1164 between the Lara family and its allies, and the Castro family and its supporters. It was part of the civil war which engulfed the Kingdom of Castile following the death of Sancho III , wherein competing factions sought control of his minor son and successor,...
in the summer of 1164, where the Laras were defeated by the Castros a second time and Manrique was killed. During the latter part of his career, Álvaro ruled Asturias de Santillana (1156–70) and briefly held the tenencia 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...
(1168), the top military post in the capital 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...
. He also briefly held the tenencias of Grajal (1162) and Viesgo (1155).