Alfonso VI of León and Castile facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Alfonso VI
A 13th-century picture of Alfonso VI from the Tumbo A book at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
King of León
First reign	1065–1072
Predecessor	Ferdinand I
Successor	Sancho II
Second reign	1072–1109
Predecessor	Sancho II
Successor	Urraca
King of Galicia and Portugal
First reign	1071–1072 (jointly with Sancho II)
Predecessor	García II
Successor	Sancho II
Second reign	1072–1109
Predecessor	Sancho II
Successor	Urraca
King of Castile
Reign	1072–1109
Predecessor	Sancho II
Successor	Urraca
Emperor of All Spain
Reign	1077–1109
Coronation	1077
Predecessor	Ferdinand I
Successor	Urraca & Alfonso
King of Toledo
Reign	1085–1109
Successor	Urraca

Born	c. 1040 – 1041 Compostela, Kingdom of León
Died	1 July 1109 Toledo, Kingdom of Toledo
Burial	Sahagún, León, San Mancio chapel in the royal monastery of Santos Facundo y Primitivo
Spouses	Agnes of Aquitaine Constance of Burgundy Berta Zaida (Isabel) (possibly his mistress) Beatrice
Issue more...	Elvira, Countess of Toulouse Theresa, Countess of Portugal Urraca, Queen of León Sancho Alfónsez Elvira, Queen of Sicily
House	Jiménez
Father	Ferdinand I of León
Mother	Sancha of León

Alfonso VI (born around 1040 or 1041 – died July 1, 1109), also known as the Brave, was a powerful king in medieval Spain. He ruled as King of León from 1065 to 1109, King of Galicia from 1071 to 1109, and King of Castile from 1072 to 1109.

One of his biggest achievements was conquering the city of Toledo in 1085. After this victory, he called himself the "most victorious king of Toledo, Spain, and Galicia." This conquest, along with El Cid taking Valencia, greatly expanded his kingdom. However, it also led to invasions from the Almoravid empire, which Alfonso spent the rest of his rule fighting against. His armies faced tough defeats at Sagrajas (1086) and Uclés (1108). In the Uclés battle, his only son, Sancho Alfónsez, died. Despite these challenges, Toledo remained part of his expanded kingdom, which he passed on to his daughter.

Life of Alfonso VI

His Early Life and Family

Alfonso was the son of Ferdinand I of León, who was the King of León and Count of Castile, and his wife, Queen Sancha. He had family roots from both León and Navarre. His grandparents were Sancho III of Pamplona, the King of Pamplona, and Muniadona of Castile. His other grandparents were Alfonso V of León (who he was likely named after) and Elvira Menéndez.

The exact year Alfonso was born isn't known for sure. One writer from his time, who knew the king, said Alfonso died at age 62 after ruling for 44 years. This suggests he was born in late 1047 or early 1048. However, another writer, Pelagius of Oviedo, claimed Alfonso was 79 when he died, which would mean he was born around 1030, even before his parents were married.

According to an old history book called Historia silense, Alfonso's oldest sister, Urraca, was born around 1033–34. His older brother, Sancho, was likely born in late 1038 or 1039. His second sister, Elvira, might have been born in 1039–40, followed by Alfonso himself in 1040–41. The youngest sibling, García, was born between 1041 and April 24, 1043.

All of King Ferdinand I's children learned about the liberal arts, which included subjects like grammar and logic. The sons also trained in fighting, horse riding, and hunting. A cleric named Raimundo was Alfonso's first teacher. Later, when Alfonso became king, he made Raimundo the Bishop of Palencia. Alfonso likely spent a lot of time in the countryside, where he learned about warfare and what it meant to be a knight, often with his friend Pedro Ansúrez.

Becoming King: How Alfonso Got the Throne

As the second son, Alfonso wasn't originally supposed to inherit the main throne. In 1063, his father, King Ferdinand I, decided to divide his kingdom among his children. This plan would only take effect after his death, to avoid family fights.

The political map of the Northern Iberian Peninsula around 1065: * Garcia II's lands (Galicia) * Badajoz, paying tribute to Garcia * Seville, paying tribute to Garcia * Alfonso VI's lands (León) * Toledo, paying tribute to Alfonso * Sancho II's lands (Castile) * Zaragoza, paying tribute to Sancho

Here's how the kingdom was divided:

Alfonso received the Kingdom of León. This was the largest and most important part, including the cities of Oviedo and León. It also included payments from the Muslim kingdom of Taifa of Toledo.
His older brother, Sancho, got the Kingdom of Castile, which their father created for him. He also received payments from the Taifa of Zaragoza.
His younger brother, García, received the entire region of Galicia. This kingdom stretched south into Portugal and included payments from the Muslim kingdoms of Taifa of Badajoz and Seville.
Their sisters, Urraca and Elvira, received income from all the royal monasteries, as long as they remained unmarried.

Historians aren't sure why King Ferdinand I divided his kingdom this way. It's possible he thought each son should rule the area where they grew up.

Becoming King and Early Challenges (1065–1072)

After being crowned in León in January 1066, Alfonso VI had to deal with his older brother Sancho II. Sancho believed he should inherit all the kingdoms because he was the eldest son. Conflicts began after their mother, Queen Sancha, died in 1067, leading to seven years of war among the three brothers.

The first fight was the Battle of Llantada. Both brothers agreed that the winner would take the loser's kingdom. Sancho II won, but Alfonso didn't follow the agreement. Still, they remained friendly for a while. In 1069, they even teamed up to divide their younger brother García II's Kingdom of Galicia between themselves.

In 1071, with Alfonso's help, Sancho II invaded Galicia. He defeated García II, who was then imprisoned and later sent away to the Muslim kingdom of Seville. After getting rid of García, Alfonso VI and Sancho II both called themselves kings of Galicia and agreed to a truce.

However, this truce didn't last. In January 1072, they fought again at the Battle of Golpejera. Sancho II's troops won, and Alfonso was captured and imprisoned. But thanks to their sister Urraca, Alfonso was allowed to go to the Muslim kingdom of Taifa of Toledo for safety, with his loyal friend Pedro Ansúrez.

From Toledo, Alfonso VI gained support from the nobles of León and his sister Urraca, who held strong in the city of Zamora. When Urraca refused to trade Zamora for other cities Sancho offered, Sancho besieged Zamora. During this siege, Sancho II was killed. Tradition says a nobleman named Vellido Dolfos tricked Sancho and killed him with a spear. While the exact details are debated, Sancho's death allowed Alfonso VI to reclaim his throne and also take control of Castile and Galicia.

Even though Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid), a trusted leader for King Sancho II, was at the siege of Zamora, his exact role is unknown. Alfonso VI was far away in exile when his brother died, so he couldn't have been directly involved. However, rumors and stories later suggested he might have been. These stories became part of a legend about El Cid.

According to legend, El Cid made Alfonso VI swear he wasn't involved in his brother's death. This created a lot of distrust between them. Even though Alfonso tried to make peace by offering El Cid his relative Jimena Díaz in marriage, the tension remained. Most modern historians believe this oath never actually happened.

Thanks to Sancho II's death, García II was able to briefly regain his throne in Galicia. However, in 1073, Alfonso called García to a meeting and then imprisoned him. García was held in Luna castle for seventeen years until he died in 1090. With both his brothers out of the way, Alfonso VI easily secured the loyalty of the church leaders and nobles in his lands.

Expanding the Kingdom (1072–1086)

Now firmly on the throne of León, and using the title "Emperor," Alfonso VI spent the next fourteen years expanding his territories. In 1072, he even called himself rex Spanie (King of Spain).

Alfonso in the Libro de las Estampas

In 1074, Alfonso teamed up with Al-Mamun, the ruler of Toledo, to attack the kingdom of Granada. They captured the important fortress of Alcalá la Real.

After the King of Navarre, Sancho IV of Navarre, was killed in 1076, Alfonso VI quickly took control of some Navarrese lands. He also gained support from nobles in other regions. After some agreements, Alfonso VI added more territories to his kingdom, including Álava and Biscay. In 1077, he adopted the grand title of Imperator totius Hispaniae ("Emperor of all Spain").

Alfonso's kingdom grew by taking advantage of the Muslim Taifa kingdoms. He continued to demand payments from them, threatening military action if they didn't pay. By 1074, he was likely receiving payments from Toledo again. In 1076, the ruler of Zaragoza agreed to pay him tribute so Alfonso wouldn't interfere with his plans to take Valencia. In 1079, Alfonso conquered Coria.

One plan, known as the "Treason of Rueda," failed in 1083. Alfonso's troops were ambushed at Rueda de Jalón castle, and several important nobles were killed.

In 1074, Alfonso VI's friend, Al-Mamun, the king of Toledo, died. His grandson, Al-Qádir, took over and asked Alfonso for help with an uprising. Alfonso used this chance to besiege Toledo, which finally fell on May 25, 1085. After losing his throne, Al-Qádir was sent by Alfonso to rule Valencia, protected by Alfonso's general, Álvar Fáñez. To help this plan and get overdue payments, Alfonso VI besieged Zaragoza in 1086. Valencia accepted Al-Qádir's rule in March.

After conquering Toledo, Alfonso VI added "King of Toledo" to his titles. He also took cities like Talavera and fortresses like Aledo. He captured Madrid in 1085 without a fight. Taking the land between the mountains and the Tagus River gave León a strong base to launch more attacks against other Muslim kingdoms.

Almoravid Invasions (1086–1109)

The conquest of Toledo, control of Valencia, and the fortress of Aledo worried the Muslim rulers in Spain. They asked for help from Yusuf ibn Tashfin, the leader of the Almoravid empire in North Africa. In July 1086, Almoravid troops crossed the Strait of Gibraltar.

In Seville, the Almoravid army joined forces with the Muslim kingdoms. On October 23, 1086, they fought Alfonso VI's troops at the Battle of Sagrajas. Alfonso's forces were defeated and had to retreat to Toledo to defend themselves. The Almoravid leader didn't follow up on his victory because he had to return to Africa. This defeat marked a new, difficult period for Alfonso VI, where he mostly had to defend his lands. However, he managed to keep Toledo.

Alfonso VI asked other Christian kingdoms in Europe for help against the Almoravids, who were taking back many of the lands he had conquered. To strengthen his position, he made peace with El Cid, who came to Toledo in late 1086 or early 1087. Because of the defeat, the Muslim kingdoms stopped paying tribute to Alfonso. However, El Cid managed to make them pay again over the next two years.

Many foreign knights came to Spain to help, even though a full crusade didn't happen. Among them were Raymond and Henry of Burgundy. They married Alfonso VI's daughters, Urraca (in 1090) and Teresa (in 1094). This led to new royal families in the Iberian Peninsula. Some of these crusaders tried to besiege Tudela but failed. That same year, Alfonso crushed a revolt in Galicia that aimed to free his brother García II.

In 1088, Yusuf ibn Tashfin crossed into Spain again but was defeated at the siege of Aledo. Many Muslim rulers abandoned him. When he returned to Spain, he decided to take over all the Muslim kingdoms himself. After the Muslim defeat at Aledo, Alfonso VI was able to collect tribute again. He promised to help the king of Granada against the Almoravids in exchange for his loyalty.

In June 1090, the Almoravids launched a third attack. They took over Granada and Seville, sending the king of Seville into exile. By the end of the year, all the southern Muslim kingdoms were under Almoravid control. Alfonso couldn't keep his promise to help the king of Seville. He faced setbacks everywhere. The only good news was when El Cid recaptured Valencia in June, defeating an Almoravid army. This victory secured the eastern border for about ten years.

Historians suggest that Alfonso VI later defeated a plot by his sons-in-law, Raymond and Henry, who planned to divide his kingdom after his death. To create rivalry between them, he gave Henry and Teresa control of the County of Portugal, which Raymond had previously governed. Raymond's rule was then limited to Galicia. Other scholars believe Henry's appointment happened later, after a military defeat in 1094.

Alfonso VI's signature from a document in 1097.

In 1097, there was a fourth Almoravid invasion. Alfonso was on his way to help his ally in Zaragoza when he heard the news. The Almoravids again targeted Toledo. They defeated the Christian forces at the Battle of Consuegra on August 15, confirming the decline of Alfonso VI's reign that had started with the defeat at Sagrajas in 1086.

In 1099, the Almoravids captured many castles defending Toledo. The next year, they tried to take Toledo itself but failed. Henry of Burgundy, Alfonso's son-in-law, was in charge of defending Toledo while the king was in Valencia. El Cid had died the previous year, and his widow, Jimena, was governing Valencia.

In 1102, Alfonso VI sent troops to help Valencia against the Almoravid threat. The battle at Cullera ended without a clear winner. However, Valencia fell to the Almoravids because Alfonso decided it was too costly to defend. Alfonso supervised the evacuation of Valencia in March and April, setting it on fire before leaving. The Almoravids took control of the remains in May. That same year, he encouraged people to settle in Salamanca and Ávila to protect his kingdom's borders. In 1104, he conquered Medinaceli, an important location for defending Toledo from the east. From 1104 to 1106, the king made several raids into Muslim territory, reaching Málaga in 1106. He returned with many Christians who had lived under Muslim rule, settling them in his kingdom.

In 1108, Almoravid troops attacked Christian lands again, this time targeting Uclés. Alfonso VI was in Sahagún, older, recently married, and with an old injury that prevented him from riding. Álvar Fáñez led the army, joined by Sancho Alfónsez, the king's only son and heir. The armies clashed at the Battle of Uclés on May 29, 1108. The Christian troops suffered another defeat, and the young Sancho Alfónsez, the heir to the throne, was killed. This loss caused a 30-year pause in the Christian reconquest and eventually led to Portugal becoming an independent kingdom. The military situation was very serious, with Almoravids taking over the Tagus valley and Muslim populations in the region rising up.

Succession Challenges

Alfonso VI, now old, faced the problem of who would rule after him. His wife Berta had died in 1099 without giving him a son. Soon after, Alfonso married Isabel, who gave him two daughters but no sons. To make things more complicated, his grandson Alfonso Raimúndez, son of Urraca and Raymond of Burgundy, was born in 1105. He was a possible rival to Sancho Alfónsez, the king's son with Zaida.

Some historians believe Alfonso VI officially recognized Sancho as his heir around 1103. From that time, Sancho started signing royal documents before his brothers-in-law, Raymond and Henry. In May 1107, Alfonso made everyone accept Sancho as his heir, despite possible objections from his daughters and their husbands. The situation improved for the king when Raymond of Burgundy died in September. Alfonso then agreed with Urraca that she would remain the ruler of Galicia, unless she remarried, in which case Galicia would go to her son.

Sancho's death in the Battle of Uclés on May 29, 1108, left Alfonso VI without a male heir. He then chose his eldest legitimate daughter, Urraca, as his successor. He decided to marry her to the famous warrior King Alfonso I of Aragon and Navarre in late 1108. Although the marriage happened the following year, it didn't bring peace. Instead, it led to a long civil war that lasted eight years.

Death and Burial

Alfonso VI died in Toledo on July 1, 1109. He had gone to the city to defend it from an upcoming Almoravid attack. His body was taken to Sahagún and buried in the Royal Monastery of San Benito, as he wished. The king's tomb was originally at the foot of the church. Later, King Sancho IV ordered it moved inside the church's main area, near the tomb of Beatriz.

The original tomb, which is now gone, was a large white marble chest supported by alabaster lions. It was usually covered by a silk tapestry showing the king crowned and armed, with the symbols of Castile and León.

The tomb was destroyed in 1810 during a fire at the monastery. The king's remains and those of several of his wives were collected and kept safe. In 1835, when the monastery was closed, the monks gave the royal remains to a relative, who hid them. They were rediscovered in 1902 by Rodrigo Fernández Núñez.

Today, Alfonso VI's remains are in the Monastery of the Benedictine nuns of Sahagún, at the foot of the church, in a simple stone tomb. Nearby, in another simple tomb, are the remains of several of his wives.

Alfonso VI's Family and Children

According to Bishop Pelagius of Oviedo, who lived at the same time as the king, Alfonso VI had five wives and two noble partners. The wives were Agnes, Constance, Berta, Isabel, and Beatrice. His partners were Jimena Muñoz and Zaida. Some writers from outside Spain mention an earlier engagement to Agatha, a daughter of William the Conqueror, King of England.

Agatha of Normandy (Possibly)

Some sources say Alfonso was engaged to Agatha, daughter of William the Conqueror, in 1067. She was supposedly sent to Spain but died before the wedding. Historians debate if Alfonso was the king involved, or if it was a different daughter of William.

Agnes of Aquitaine

In 1069, Alfonso became engaged to Agnes, daughter of Duke William VIII of Aquitaine. She was only about 10 years old, so they waited until she was 14 for the official wedding, which happened in late 1073 or early 1074. She appears in royal documents until May 22, 1077. After that, the king is shown alone.

Agnes is believed to have died on June 6, 1078. However, a 12th-century English writer, Orderic Vitalis, claimed their marriage was ended in 1080 because they were too closely related, and that Agnes remarried in 1109. Historians disagree on whether the marriage was annulled or if she died.

Epitaph of Jimena Muñoz, Alfonso's partner and ancestor of the first Portuguese royal family.

Jimena Muñoz

After Agnes, the king had a relationship with Jimena Muñoz, described as a "very noble" partner from a royal family. They had two daughters born between 1078 and 1080:

Elvira (born around 1079), who married Count Raymond IV of Toulouse.
Teresa (born around 1080), who married Count Henry of Portugal. They were given the right to rule the County of Portugal, and their oldest son, Afonso Henriques, became the first King of Portugal.

Constance of Burgundy

In late 1079, Alfonso VI married Constance of Burgundy. She was the widow of a count and the daughter of Duke Robert I of Burgundy. She was also the niece of a powerful abbot and aunt of Henry of Burgundy. This marriage lasted until Constance's death in 1093. They had six children, but only one lived to adulthood:

Urraca (born around 1080), who became her father's successor as Queen of León and Castile. She married Raymond of Burgundy and later King Alfonso I of Aragon. She also had two children from a relationship with Count Pedro González de Lara. Her son with Raymond of Burgundy, Alfonso VII, succeeded her.

Zaida

Bishop Pelagius of Oviedo mentions Zaida as one of the king's partners. She was the daughter-in-law of the ruler of Seville. In March 1091, the Almoravid army attacked Córdoba, and Zaida's husband died. Zaida and her children sought protection at Alfonso's court and converted to Christianity. She was baptized "Isabel" and became the king's partner. They had one son:

Sancho Alfónsez (born around 1094 – died May 29, 1108), Alfonso VI's only son and heir. His early death in battle greatly saddened his father.

Some historians believe Zaida later married Alfonso VI and became his fourth wife, Isabel, which would have made their son Sancho legitimate and the official heir. However, other historians disagree, saying that Zaida was a partner, not a wife.

Berta

On November 25, 1093, Alfonso VI married his third wife, Berta. She was likely from the House of Savoy. She appears in court records starting in April 1095. She died between November 17, 1099, and January 15, 1100. The king made a donation to a monastery in her memory. They had no children.

Isabel

Alfonso VI's next marriage was in early 1100 to Isabel. There's a lot of debate among historians about whether this Isabel was the same person as Zaida (after her baptism) or a different woman. Alfonso and Isabel appear together in documents from May 1100. Isabel's last mention in royal documents was in May 1107, and she likely died around that time. If she was not Zaida, her background is unknown. They had two daughters:

Sancha (born around 1102), who married Rodrigo González de Lara.
Elvira (born around 1103), who married King Roger II of Sicily.

Beatrice

Alfonso VI married his fifth wife, Beatrice, probably in early 1108. They appear together in documents from May 1108 until April 1109, about three months before the king's death. According to Bishop Pelagius of Oviedo, Beatrice returned to her homeland after Alfonso died. Some historians suggest she was the daughter of William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine, and later remarried.

Alfonso VI's Legacy

In terms of culture, Alfonso VI made the Camino de Santiago (a famous pilgrimage route) safer. He also encouraged the Cluniac Reforms in monasteries, which brought changes to religious practices.

The king replaced the old Mozarabic religious practices with the Roman ones. There's a common story that Alfonso VI threw both Mozarabic and Roman prayer books into a fire. When only the Roman book burned, he threw the Mozarabic one into the fire, thus making the Roman way the official one.

Alfonso VI, the conqueror of Toledo and a king who brought European ideas to Spain, saw his great political work begin to fall apart in his later years due to Almoravid attacks and internal weaknesses. He fully embraced the idea of León as an empire. His openness to European influences made him aware of the feudal system, which was very strong in France at the time. This led him to share his kingdom among his two daughters and his son, which was different from the usual tradition of giving everything to the eldest son. This decision eventually led to Portugal becoming an independent kingdom and the possibility of an independent Galicia.