Gonzalo Peláez facts for kids
Gonzalo Peláez was an important leader in the Asturias region of Spain. He lived a long time ago, in the 1100s. From 1110 to 1132, he was a powerful ruler in Asturias. He served under two kings and queens: Queen Urraca and her son, Alfonso VII. Even though he held important military jobs for King Alfonso, Gonzalo started a big rebellion against him in 1132. This fight lasted five years, with a few short times when they made peace. He eventually died in Portugal in March 1138 while he was in exile.
We don't know much about Gonzalo's early life or family. Some people think his parents might have been Pelayo Peláez and Mumadonna (also called Mayor) González. This idea comes from an old document from 1097. In this document, a woman named Mumadonna gave money to the Diocese of Oviedo (a church group) for her soul and her husband Pelayo's soul. She also mentioned their son, Gonzalo.
In 1118, a Gonzalo Peláez and his wife, Mayor Muñoz, received land from Queen Urraca. It's not certain if this was the same Gonzalo. If it was, he might have been from León, not Asturias, as many people believe.
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Gonzalo's Rule in Asturias
Gonzalo Peláez first appears in historical records in 1095. By July 1110, he was given control of Asturias de Oviedo, a region in Asturias. He kept this important job until April 1132. Before Gonzalo, Asturias had "counts" who were noble rulers. But after 1106, there were no more counts of Asturias. Gonzalo was a "new man" who wasn't from a very old noble family. He became powerful because the king trusted him.
Instead of a count, King Alfonso chose Gonzalo to be a castellan. This meant his main job was military, like leading soldiers and protecting the area. Other jobs, like managing the land, were left to Bishop Pelagius of Oviedo. Gonzalo and the bishop worked well together. For example, in 1113, Bishop Pelagius gave Gonzalo half of a town called Almunia de Candamo.
People described Gonzalo's role in different ways in old documents. At first, they just called him Gonzalo "in Oviedo." Later, they said he was "lording it over Asturias" or the "head of the land." By 1120, some documents said he was "ruling Asturias." But most often, especially after 1123, he was called the "power in Asturias."
Around 1115, Queen Urraca seemed to limit Gonzalo's power a bit. She appointed other leaders in different parts of Asturias. For example, Gonzalo Sánchez became a castellan in Tineo. Later, between 1120 and 1125, Suero Vermúdez became a count in Tineo and also controlled Luna in León. This meant Suero controlled the mountain passes connecting Asturias and León.
When King Alfonso VII became king in 1126, a historical book called the Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris says Gonzalo Peláez promised to be loyal to him. However, Gonzalo didn't officially become a "count" until February 1130. He might have pushed the king to give him this title during a difficult time. The Chronica also says Gonzalo was made "Consul" in charge of all military outposts in Asturias. In 1129, King Alfonso sent Gonzalo and Suero Vermúdez to talk with Alfonso I of Aragon and Navarre, another powerful king. Gonzalo also served as the king's alférez (a high military officer) from late 1131 to early 1132. This was when he was most powerful.
The Chronica Adefonsi also suggests that Gonzalo didn't fully help the king defend against Alfonso of Aragon. It also says he openly went against Queen Urraca, even after she had given him many honors. However, some historians believe Gonzalo became powerful in Asturias because he was loyal to Urraca during the civil wars of her reign.
Gonzalo's Rebellions Against the King
First Rebellion
In 1132, Gonzalo Peláez rebelled against King Alfonso VII. We don't know exactly why, but it might have been connected to another rebellion happening in Castile. Gonzalo had the support of a relative, Rodrigo Gómez, but not the local bishop.
King Alfonso had gathered an army to fight Aragon, but he changed his plans and marched his army to Asturias to fight Gonzalo. Rodrigo Gómez was captured, lost his lands, and was sent away. Many of Gonzalo's knights were also captured. King Alfonso took the castle of Gozón and others nearby. But he couldn't capture the strong fortress of Castillo de Tudela, where Gonzalo was hiding.
When Gonzalo saw how many of his knights were captured, he agreed to a one-year peace deal. He gave up Tudela castle, but he kept control of other strong castles like Proaza, Buanga, and Alba de Quirós.
Second Rebellion
In 1133, King Alfonso went to Oviedo and demanded that Gonzalo give up his remaining castles. Gonzalo refused and prepared to fight at Proaza. The Chronica says Gonzalo even "killed the horse the King was riding" and several men.
Since the king couldn't stop the rebellion, he left troops under the command of Suero Vermúdez and Pedro Alfonso. These leaders had help from "all of the Asturians," though it's unclear what that meant. Suero attacked Buanga, and Pedro attacked Alba de Quirós, while Gonzalo was at Proaza. The royal forces surrounded Gonzalo's strongholds. They set up ambushes on all roads leading to his castles. The Chronica mentions that anyone they caught had their hands cut off, which "was done for several days."
The rebellion was still going on in May 1134. In the spring of 1135, Gonzalo finally made peace with the king. Suero, Pedro, and Bishop Arias of León helped them negotiate. The Chronica Adefonsi says Gonzalo knelt before King Alfonso, admitted he was wrong, and asked for forgiveness. The king forgave him and treated him with great honor at the royal palace for several days.
This was the public ceremony. In private, Gonzalo agreed to give up his three castles only if he received control of Luna, a region that used to belong to Suero Vermúdez. King Alfonso agreed to this, after getting advice from his sister Sancha Raimúndez and his wife Berengaria.
Third Rebellion
Gonzalo signed four documents on May 26, 1135, and was with the king's court a week later. This peace agreement happened just in time for Alfonso to be crowned "Emperor of Spain." However, this peace didn't last long. In July 1135, King Alfonso gave Gonzalo Peláez's property to other nobles. A royal document from December 1135 shows that Gonzalo was again openly rebelling in Buanga.
The next spring, the king and Gonzalo made peace again. Gonzalo was with the royal court in Sahagún throughout March 1136.
Last Rebellion, Exile, and Death
Gonzalo stayed with the king's court and was on good terms with the king until at least October 1136. However, no documents show him actually controlling Luna, so the king might not have kept his promise. The Chronica says the king ordered Luna to be given to Gonzalo "to avoid any further rebellion."
By early 1137, Gonzalo was rebelling again. This time, Pedro Alfonso arrested him and put him in prison in the castle of Aguilar. The king ordered him to be released but banished him from the kingdom, setting a specific day for him to leave. Gonzalo obeyed. By October, he had moved to Portugal and was living at the court of Afonso Henriques, the Portuguese ruler. He brought his knights with him.
Gonzalo might have been planning to attack King Alfonso's lands from Portugal. The Chronica says he wanted to "wage war by sea" against both Galicia and Asturias. Afonso Henriques supported him and promised him important jobs.
However, Gonzalo never got to do this. He died in March 1138. The author of the Chronica, who supported King Alfonso VII, wrote that Gonzalo "caught a fever and died an exile in a foreign land." His knights brought his body back to Oviedo for burial, with the king's permission. In 1143, Gonzalo's sister, Cristina Peláez, and her husband, Gonzalo Vermúdez, made a gift to the church of Oviedo for the good of his soul.
See also
In Spanish: Gonzalo Peláez para niños
