Battle of Huete facts for kids

The Battle of Huete was a big fight that happened in 1164 in Huete. It was part of a civil war in the Kingdom of Castile. This war started after King Sancho III died in 1158. His son, Alfonso VIII, was still very young, and different powerful families wanted to control him and the kingdom.

What Caused the Battle of Huete?

After King Sancho III died, two main families, the Lara family and the Castro family, were fighting for power. They both wanted to guide the young King Alfonso VIII. This wasn't their first fight; they had also battled at Lobregal in 1162.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The Lara family was led by three brothers: Manrique, Nuño, and Álvaro Pérez de Lara.

The Castro family was led by Fernando Rodríguez de Castro. He had been living in León since 1160, staying with King Ferdinand II.

The Battle Begins

Fernando Rodríguez de Castro gathered his army in the castle of Huete, which was in the Kingdom of Toledo. He was planning to invade Castile. The people of Ávila joined the Lara family and King Alfonso VIII's side. They tried to stop Fernando.

Fernando's army included soldiers from Toledo, Huete, and Zorita. Count Manrique, from the Lara family, brought the young King Alfonso VIII with him to Huete. Manrique demanded that Fernando give up the castle, but Fernando refused. He said that King Sancho III had told him to keep his lands until Alfonso VIII grew up.

Manrique then told his brother Nuño to protect the young king. If there was any danger, Nuño was to take the king to Zorita.

What Happened After the Battle?

The battle took place right in front of Huete. Just like at Lobregal, the Castro family won this fight. Sadly, Count Manrique was killed by Fernando during the battle.

Even though the Castro family won, the young King Alfonso VIII remained under the control of the Lara family. Fernando Rodríguez de Castro had to go back to León. After Manrique's death, his brothers led the retreat, taking the king to Zorita and then to Ávila. In Ávila, church leaders helped them make peace and stop the fighting for a while.

When Did the Battle Happen?

The exact date of the Battle of Huete is a bit unclear.

Some old records, like the Anales toledanos primeros, say it happened on July 9, 1164. They clearly state that Manrique was killed on this day.

However, another old document from a monastery, called the Becerro mayor de Aguilar de Campoo, suggests an earlier date. It mentions the battle happened on June 3, 1164. This document was written closer to the time of the battle. But, because it's a copy made much later, the date written in it might be wrong. Historians still discuss which date is correct.