Battle of Golpejera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Golpejera |
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| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
 Alfonso VI taking the Oath of Santa Gadea |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Sancho II of Castile Castile |
Alfonso VI of León León |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sancho II of Castile Alférez Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar |
Alfonso VI of León | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Golpejera, also called Golpejar, was a fight between Christian kingdoms in early January 1072. King Sancho II of Castile (known as the Strong) won against the army of his brother, Alfonso VI of León (known as the Brave). This battle happened near Carrión de los Condes. It is famous because El Cid, a well-known knight, took part in it.
Contents
Why Did the Battle of Golpejera Happen?
In the 11th century, three kingdoms in Spain were united. These were Castile, León, and Galicia. They were all ruled by one king, Ferdinand I of León, who was called The Great.
How King Ferdinand Divided His Kingdoms
King Ferdinand had a plan for who would rule after him. He decided to split his lands among his three sons. This led to many years of fighting between the brothers.
- Alfonso received the Kingdom of León.
- García received the Kingdom of Galicia.
- Sancho received the Kingdom of Castile.
Ferdinand also gave towns to his two daughters, Urraca and Elvira. Urraca received Zamora, and Elvira received Toro.
The Start of the Conflict
After their father died, King Sancho of Castile wanted more land. He claimed parts of his brothers' kingdoms. This led him to attack the nearby Christian kingdoms.
What Happened After the Battle?
Sancho II of Castile defeated his brother, Alfonso VI of León. The battle took place near the Carrión River. This area was about 9 miles south of Santa Maria de Carrion.
How the Battle Unfolded
The fight began at dawn. At first, Sancho's Castilian army was pushed back. But a brave knight named Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid, helped. He encouraged both King Sancho and his soldiers.
El Cid led them in a new attack the next morning. This time, they won. King Alfonso was captured during the battle.
Alfonso's Exile and Sancho's Fate
After being captured, Alfonso was sent away from his kingdom. He found safety in Toledo, which was then controlled by the Moors.
However, Sancho's victory did not last long. He was later killed by trickery. This happened while he was trying to capture the town of Zamora. Some nobles from León were hiding there with Sancho's sister, Urraca.
After Sancho's death, Alfonso was able to return. He then ruled both the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Castile.
The Battle of Golpejera in Modern Culture
This battle is shown in the video game Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion. It is part of the El Cid campaign and is called "Brother Against Brother."
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Golpejera para niños
Images for kids
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Location of the Battle was 9 miles south of the historic settlement of Santa Maria de Carrion, now Carrion de los Condes on the Carrion River
