Battle of Viadangos facts for kids

The Battle of Viadangos was a big fight that happened in the autumn of 1111. It was fought between Alfonso I of Aragon and the armies from Galicia. These Galician forces were helping Alfonso's wife, Urraca of León and Castile, who he was separated from. The battle took place near Villadangos del Páramo, not far from León. Alfonso won this battle easily, but Urraca's son, Alfonso Raimúndez, managed to escape.

Who Fought and Why

After another battle called Candespina, where Alfonso and his friend Henry, Count of Portugal had beaten Urraca's troops, Queen Urraca tried to get Henry to switch sides. She wanted him to stop helping Alfonso. Urraca's helpers, like Fernando Garciaz de Hita, made a deal with Henry. This happened in a place called Sepúlveda.

The queen and Henry then went to Palencia. They wanted to finish a plan to divide the kingdom. Henry would get more land than Alfonso had offered him. He was offered the city of Zamora and the castle at Ceia in León. He would also get some lands in Castile, on top of his own lands in Portugal.

Shifting Alliances

It seems Henry asked for too much. So, Queen Urraca secretly started talking to her husband, Alfonso, again. Before she left Palencia, she told her men to give the city to Alfonso. Old writings say that Theresa, Urraca's half-sister and Henry's wife, was involved. Theresa wanted to be a queen.

Henry went to Zamora to take control of it. Urraca and Theresa went to Sahagún first. Then Urraca went to her main city, León. Alfonso quickly took Palencia, as he had agreed with Urraca. He almost caught Theresa when he took Sahagún. Then he moved towards León. Urraca was probably scared of Alfonso's power. She went into the hills of Galicia. Her supporters likely didn't know about her new deal with Alfonso.

The Battle of Viadangos

While all this was happening, Urraca's allies didn't know about her new plans. These allies were Count Pedro Froilaz de Traba and Archbishop Diego Gelmírez. They marched with Urraca's young son, Alfonso Raimúndez. They might have wanted Alfonso Raimúndez to be recognized as ruler with his mother in León.

The Ambush

Alfonso had already taken control of eastern Galicia in 1110. Urraca's allies took back Lugo. They might have left some soldiers there, which made their army smaller. They then marched towards León. But at Viadangos, Alfonso and his Aragonese army surprised them.

According to an old book called the Historia Compostelana, Urraca's allies had only 266 knights. Alfonso had 600 cavalrymen and 2,000 infantrymen. Pedro Froilaz was captured. The few who escaped ran to Astorga. A man named Fernando died in the battle.

After the Fight

When it was clear they were losing badly, Diego Gelmírez took young Alfonso Raimúndez. They fled to a strong castle called Orzilio. This castle was likely Orcellón, in a region called Castela, not in Castile as some thought. Diego brought the boy to his mother, Urraca.

After making sure Alfonso was safe with his mother, Diego went back to Astorga. He helped the wounded and others. Then he led them back to Santiago de Compostela, which is where they had started their journey.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Viadangos para niños