García Garcés de Aza facts for kids
García Garcés de Aza (pronounced Gar-SEE-ah Gar-THES day AH-thah) was an important nobleman from the Kingdom of Castile. He lived in the 1100s, from about 1126 to 1159. He was known for being very wealthy. García Garcés played a big part in the later battles of the Reconquista. This was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain fought to take back land from Muslim rule. He served King Alfonso VII, who was also called "the Emperor." García Garcés owned a region called Aza, which is why his name includes "de Aza."
Contents
His Family and Early Life
García Garcés was the son of a count named García Ordóñez. His mother was Eva, who might have been from France. After his father died, his mother Eva married again. She married Pedro González de Lara. This made García Garcés the half-brother of Pedro and Eva's children. Because of this, he was closely connected to the powerful Lara family.
Serving King Alfonso VII
When King Alfonso VII first became king in 1126, García Garcés was among the Castilian noblemen who promised to be loyal to him. This was a special ceremony called homage.
Royal Officer
García served King Alfonso as an alférez. This was an important military role, often given to younger noblemen starting their careers. He held this position between 1126 and 1127. Later, in 1142, García also worked as a civil judge in Ávila.
Military Campaigns
In 1147, King Alfonso VII led a summer campaign against Almería. García Garcés joined the army later than others. He was at Calatrava in June of that year. It seems he stayed at Calatrava with a group of soldiers. This means he probably did not take part in the main sieges of Andújar, Baeza, or Almería.
Personal Life and Property
In 1155, García sold some land at Alcolea to his half-brother, Manrique Pérez de Lara. He sold it for one thousand maravedís, which was a type of currency.
Marriage and Children
García Garcés married a woman named Sancha Pérez. She was the daughter of a nobleman named Pedro Fróilaz de Traba. In 1157, García and Sancha gave their monastic church, San Florencio, to the abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos. They did this "for the relief of our souls and the remission of all our sins."
García and Sancha had at least two daughters:
- Elvira
- Mayor, who married Gonzalo de Marañón
Later Life
In 1159, the Lara family took care of the young King Alfonso VIII. They placed him under the care of García Garcés. However, it soon became clear that García was not wealthy enough to properly look after a king. So, King Alfonso VIII was then placed in the household of Manrique, García's half-brother. Also in 1159, García gave a hostel (a type of inn) in Tardajos to the Diocese of Burgos.
See also
In Spanish: García García de Aza para niños
