Gómez González facts for kids

Gómez González (who died on October 26, 1111) was an important leader and nobleman from the Kingdom of Castile. He was sometimes called "de Lara" or "de Candespina." Gómez was the oldest son of Gonzalo Salvadórez and Sancha. He was also related to the powerful Lara family. Like his father, Gómez died in a battle.

Early Life and Family

Gómez González first appears in historical records in 1084. This was one year after his father passed away. It's not known exactly when Gómez got married. However, by 1107, he was married to a woman named Urraca Muñoz.

Together, Gómez and Urraca had five children. They had two daughters, Stephanie (Estefanía) and Sancha. They also had three sons: Diego, Rodrigo, and Gonzalo. After Gómez died, his wife Urraca Muñoz married Count Beltrán de Risnel.

Becoming a Powerful Leader

In 1090, Gómez was given control of several important areas called fiefdoms or tenencias. These included Cerezo de Riotirón and Pancorbo. He managed these areas until his death. He also controlled Petralata until 1106.

By November 1092, Gómez became the royal alférez (a high military officer) for King Alfonso VI. He held this important position until April 1099. By early 1099, Gómez had earned the high title of count. This title was usually given to young noblemen after they served as an alférez.

Gómez also briefly controlled the area of Poza in 1097. Later in his life, around 1110, he held Avià. His most important area was Bureba. This was a key border region next to the Kingdom of Navarre. His father had controlled Bureba before him. Gómez was given control of Bureba in 1102 and held it until 1107. In 1107, Gómez also made a special gift to the church in Busto.

Involvement with Queen Urraca

In the summer of 1108, important changes happened in the royal family. The king's son, Sancho Alfónsez, died in the Battle of Uclés. Gómez might have been at this battle. After this, a group of bishops and nobles suggested that Gómez marry Urraca. Urraca was the daughter of King Alfonso VI and the new heir to the throne. This group did not want Urraca to marry Alfonso the Battler, who was the king of Navarre and Aragon.

Gómez and Urraca had a son named Domingo Gómez. Domingo later helped bring a religious group called the Premonstratensians to Spain. He started a monastery around 1146.

Gómez was one of the important leaders who saw Queen Urraca's first official act as queen. This happened on July 22, 1109. He supported her claim to have been given "the whole kingdom" by her father. In this important document, Gómez signed as castellanorum comes. This means "count of the Castilians." This title was mostly honorary. The old County of Castile had become the Kingdom of Castile. It was divided into several smaller counties. Gómez's influence was mostly along the border with Navarre. His position on the border might explain why he was against Urraca marrying the Aragonese king. He would have competed with Aragon for new lands to the south.

Final Battle and Death

In early 1110, Gómez was with Queen Urraca and the King of Aragon at the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Valvanera. He confirmed some important documents there. By the middle of that year, Gómez was openly supporting Urraca against her husband.

Gómez was last mentioned in a document on October 15, 1110. However, he was killed more than a year later. This happened on October 26, 1111, at the Battle of Candespina. He was leading Urraca's forces in this battle. Henry, Count of Portugal, who was allied with the King of Aragon, killed him.

Gómez's death was a big loss for Queen Urraca's supporters. A short historical record says: "the Aragonese king Alfonso and count Henry killed the lord count Gómez in the field of Spina." Another record simply states that "they" killed count Gómez. After Gómez's death, his relative Pedro González de Lara became a key supporter of Queen Urraca.

See also

In Spanish: Gómez González para niños