Gonzalo Téllez facts for kids
Gonzalo Téllez was an important nobleman who lived a long time ago, around the late 800s and early 900s. He was a powerful leader, known as a Count, in areas like Lantarón and Cerezo. Sometimes, he was even called the Count of Castile. He and his wife helped start a famous place called the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza. He died around the year 915.
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Protecting the Borders
During Gonzalo Téllez's time, there were many attacks from armies of the Emirate of Córdoba (a Muslim kingdom in Spain) against the Christian lands of Castile and Álava. These attacks made it important to build strong forts to defend the land. Some of these forts were in places like Cerezo, Lantarón, and Astúlez.
Around the year 882, another count named Vela Jiménez was in charge of Álava. Before him, Count Rodrigo of Castile might have governed the area.
Gonzalo's Role as Count
Near the end of his rule, King Alfonso III of Asturias (who reigned from 866 to 910) decided to organize the eastern parts of his kingdom. He divided these lands into smaller areas called counties. He then chose his most trusted leaders, called counts, to govern each one.
Gonzalo Téllez was one of these chosen counts. He was put in charge of Cerezo and Lantarón. Lantarón was a very important place because of its location. From there, Gonzalo could control the path to the Omecillo valley and the land along the River Ebro, near Miranda. This helped protect the Christian lands from raids.
Fighting for Land
When the leader of Córdoba, Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi, died in 912, his successor, Abd-ar-Rahman III, was busy dealing with problems in his own kingdom. King García I of León saw this as a chance to expand his territory.
In 913, King García I went to the eastern border of the Kingdom of León, which was part of Count Gonzalo's land. From there, his armies moved into La Rioja. They successfully took over Nájera and Calahorra. They also tried to capture Arnedo, but it was too strong. Soon after, the Christian armies had to leave, possibly because King García I became very sick.
Besides Gonzalo Téllez, other counts like Munio Vélaz, Fernando Díaz, and Álvaro Herraméliz also governed the Álava region. This continued until 992, when Count Fernán González of Castile took over Álava.
Gonzalo's Lands and Forts
Count Gonzalo owned lands in an area called Pedernales, which was not far from Burgos. This area later became part of the town of Villagonzalo Pedernales, which is named after him. He also had lands in the Omecillo River valley.
His control stretched from the Nervión River to the Sierra de la Demanda mountains. He had strong forts in Lantarón, Pancorbo, and Cerezo. These forts were crucial for protecting the eastern border from attacks by Muslim groups, especially the Banu Qasi.
Early Records of Gonzalo
The first time Gonzalo is mentioned in a document is on November 18, 897. This document, though now lost, said that King Alfonso III ruled in Oviedo, and Count Gonzalo Téllez ruled in Lantarón.
On September 24, 902, Gonzalo and his wife, Flámula (who was also called Lambra), gave some farmland in Pedernales to the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña. A year later, on September 1, 903, a document mentioned him as Gondesalbo Telluz in Castella. This is the only time he is called the Count of Castile.
Helping New Settlements Grow
In 912, King García chose three counts, including Gonzalo Téllez, to help people settle new lands along the Duero River. This process was called repopulation.
- Munio Núñez helped settle people in Roa.
- Gonzalo Fernández brought settlers to Burgos, Clunia, and San Esteban de Gormaz.
- Gonzalo Téllez helped people settle in Osma.
On October 25, 913, Gonzalo and Flámula gave a gift to a monastery in Cerezo. The document for this gift shows that Gonzalo was still governing Cerezo at that time.
Founding the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza
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Gonzalo Téllez and his wife Flámula are mentioned in the official document that started the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza. This happened on January 12, 913. Muniadona, the mother of a later famous count named Fernán González, also signed this document with her son Ramiro.
Even though some later stories say that Count Fernán González founded the monastery, it was actually Count Gonzalo Téllez and his wife who started it.
Gonzalo Téllez is last mentioned in a document from February 25, 915. In this document, he gave land called Cótar to the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña. He likely died sometime between that date and May 919. After him, Munio Vélaz became the Count of Álava. There are no records of Gonzalo having any children. His wife, Flámula, was still alive in November 929, when she made another gift to the monastery they had founded, in memory of her husband.
See also
In Spanish: Gonzalo Téllez para niños
