Gontrodo Pérez facts for kids

Gontrodo Pérez lived a long time ago, from about 1105 to 1186. She was an important woman from Asturias, a region in Spain. Gontrodo had a relationship with King Alfonso VII of León. They had a daughter named Urraca. Urraca later became the Queen of Pamplona when she married King García Ramírez.

Her Family Background

Gontrodo Pérez came from an important family in Asturias. Her father was Pedro Díaz de Valle, a powerful lord. Her mother was María Ordóñez. Pedro Díaz de Valle was in charge of important places like the Towers of León. This shows that her parents were not just local nobles. Gontrodo had several brothers and sisters. Her family was connected to other important people in the region.

Her Children

Gontrodo was married to Gutierre Sebastiániz. He was a powerful lord in charge of Aguilar, a fortress near Oviedo. Gutierre is last mentioned in records from 1137. Gontrodo and Gutierre had three children together:

• Sebastián Gutiérrez
• Diego Gutiérrez
• Aldonza Gutiérrez

Gontrodo also had a relationship with King Alfonso VII of León. This began around 1132 when the king was in Asturias. In 1133, their daughter Urraca was born. Urraca later became the wife of King García Ramírez of Pamplona.

Founding a Monastery and Her Later Life

On October 13, 1153, Gontrodo founded a special place called the Monastery of Santa María de la Vega in Oviedo. Her daughter, Queen Urraca, who was a widow by then, helped confirm the monastery's founding. King Alfonso VII also approved it. All the land and buildings Gontrodo gave to the monastery were her own. She either got them from the king or inherited them from her parents.

Gontrodo wanted the monastery to be run by the Order of Fontevrault. This was a unique choice for Spain at that time. Later, around 1283, the monastery began following the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Gontrodo became a nun in this monastery. She lived there for the rest of her life. She passed away on June 26, 1186. Gontrodo was buried in a special stone coffin decorated with pictures of birds, dogs, and plants. The monastery was later closed in 1854. The nuns moved to another monastery in Oviedo. They took Gontrodo's coffin with them. Today, the lid of her coffin is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Asturias.

Gontrodo in Old Records

We know about Gontrodo from old documents called charters. These records show some of her important actions:

• On March 11, 1143, Gontrodo gave away some of her property. She said these properties could not be sold or lent to others. Her brothers and her children confirmed this gift.
• On April 17, 1147, she gave away land that King Alfonso VII had given her. Her children and Queen Urraca confirmed this.
• On October 13, 1153, she founded the Monastery of Santa María de la Vega. Her daughter Urraca was with her.

See also

In Spanish: Gontrodo Pérez para niños