Gonzalo Pérez Gudiel facts for kids

Gonzalo Pérez 'Gudiel' (born 1238 or 1239 – died 1299) was an important leader in the church and a smart helper to the kings of Castile. He served King Alfonso X and King Sancho IV. He also worked with Pope Boniface VIII.

Gonzalo Pérez held many important church jobs. He was a bishop in Cuenca and Burgos. Later, he became the Archbishop of Toledo, which was a very powerful position. He was even called the first official Primate of Spain, meaning he was the top church leader in the country. Near the end of his life, he became a cardinal, a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church, in Rome. Before all this, he was a well-known scholar who studied in different countries.

Early Life and Education

Gonzalo Pérez was born in Toledo around 1238 or 1239. His family was part of the Mozarab community, which were Christians living under Muslim rule in Spain. His father, Pedro Juanes, and his mother, Teresa Juanes, were respected citizens.

Later historians sometimes called him "Gonzalo García Gudiel." However, this was a mistake. His real name was Gonzalo Pérez, and his family didn't use a surname like "Gudiel" at that time.

Gonzalo was very smart and went to study at the famous University of Paris. This was a big deal for someone from his background. After his studies, he became the head of the University of Padua in Italy in 1260. He also spent some time in Rome.

Church and Royal Service

After his time abroad, Gonzalo Pérez returned to Castile. He started his church career as a canon at the Cathedral of Burgos. A canon is a type of priest who works for a cathedral. Later, he became the dean of the chapter at the Cathedral of Toledo. The dean is a leader of the group of priests who manage the cathedral.

Rising Through the Ranks

In 1272, Gonzalo was chosen to be the Bishop of Cuenca. As a bishop, he was a spiritual leader for a large area. During this time, he also worked for the king as a royal notary. A notary was someone who wrote down official documents and agreements.

In 1275, he became the Bishop of Burgos. This was another important step in his career. Then, in 1280, he was made the Archbishop of Toledo. This was the most important church job in the Kingdom of Castile. In 1285, he was officially recognized as the Primate of Spain, which meant he was the highest church authority in the entire country.

Working with King Sancho IV

Under King Sancho IV, Gonzalo Pérez became a very powerful person. He was the "great chancellor in all our realms." This meant he was in charge of all the king's official papers and records. He had a scribe named Ferrand Martínez who helped him with this work.

However, when King Sancho IV died in 1295, Gonzalo's influence started to lessen. At a meeting called the cortes in Valladolid, it was decided that church leaders should no longer control the chancery. Instead, regular people (called laymen) should handle these important royal documents.

Gonzalo Pérez also disagreed with some political decisions. He opposed the idea of King Ferdinand IV's uncle, Henry the Senator, becoming the young king's guardian. Gonzalo thought Henry would cause trouble.

Becoming a Cardinal

In 1298, Pope Boniface VIII appointed Gonzalo Pérez as a cardinal-bishop. This was a very high honor, making him a close advisor to the Pope. He was given the title of Cardinal-bishop of Albano. Gonzalo died soon after this appointment in Rome. He was buried in a beautiful tomb in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Legacy and Burial

Gonzalo Pérez had made a promise to his scribe, Ferrand Martínez. He wanted his body to be brought back to Spain and buried in the Cathedral of Toledo. In the year 1300, Ferrand Martínez traveled to Rome to bring Gonzalo's body home.

The journey back to Toledo was long and slow. The body traveled through places like Logroño and Burgos. In Burgos, King Ferdinand IV and his court, including Henry the Senator, came to receive the body. This showed how important Gonzalo Pérez was.

When the body reached Peñafiel, just outside Toledo, Gonzalo's nephew, Gonzalo Díaz Palomeque, who was the new archbishop, and the local lord, Juan Manuel, greeted it. When the body finally arrived in Toledo, it was met by a happy crowd of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. This shows how respected Gonzalo Pérez was by everyone in the city.

The story of Gonzalo's journey and his burial is even told in an old Spanish book called Libro del caballero Zifar. This book was likely written by Ferrand Martínez himself.

See also

In Spanish: Gonzalo García Gudiel para niños