Juan Núñez I de Lara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Núñez I de LaraEl Gordo
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| Head of the House of Lara and Lord of Albarracín | |
Arms of the House of Lara
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| Successor | Juan Núñez II de Lara |
| Died | April 1294 Córdoba, Andalusia, Kingdom of Castile |
| Buried | Convento de San Pablo de Burgos |
| Noble family | House of Lara |
| Spouse(s) | Teresa Álvarez de Azagra Teresa de Haro |
| Issue | Juan Núñez II de Lara Nuño González de Lara Juana Núñez de Lara |
| Father | Nuño González de Lara |
| Mother | Teresa Alfonso de León |
Juan Núñez I de Lara y León (died in Córdoba, April 1294) was an important Spanish noble. He was also known as "el Gordo" or "the Fat." He led the powerful House of Lara family. Juan Núñez I was also the Lord of many towns, including Lerma, Amaya, and Dueñas. He became the Lord of Albarracín through his first marriage to Teresa Álvarez de Azagra.
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Family Background
Juan Núñez I was the son of Nuño González de Lara, who was known as "el Bueno" (the Good). His mother was Teresa Alfonso de León, who was the granddaughter of King Alfonso IX of Leon. His grandparents were Gonzalo Núñez de Lara and María Díaz de Haro y Azagra.
Juan had several siblings. His brother, Nuño González de Lara y León, was also a powerful noble in Castile. He also had two sisters: Teresa Núñez de Lara y León, who married Gil Gómez de Roa, and María Núñez de Lara y León, who married Diego Gómez de Roa.
Life as a Noble
Early Life and King Alfonso X
We don't know exactly when Juan Núñez I was born. In 1266, he became a vassal (a loyal supporter) of Santa María and the Lord of Albarracín. He and his brother, Nuño González, gave some land to a monastery. Later that year, they confirmed their support for King Alfonso X of Castile.
Juan Núñez I even joined King Louis IX of France on the Eighth Crusade in Tunis. This was a religious war, and he went without King Alfonso X's permission. However, he was still allowed to keep all his lands and titles.
In 1272–1273, many nobles rebelled against King Alfonso X. Juan Núñez I first tried to help the king by talking to the rebellious nobles, including Philip of Castile, the king's brother. When this didn't work, Juan Núñez I joined his father and other rebel leaders. They sought safety in the Muslim kingdom of Granada. While there, he helped negotiate peace between the King of Castile and the rebel nobles.
In 1273, Juan Núñez I fully joined the rebellion. He and other nobles met in Tudela to promise their loyalty to King Henry I of Navarre. They told the Navarrese king their complaints against Alfonso X.
King Alfonso X still wanted to become the Holy Roman Emperor. So, he allowed his family to talk with the rebels. After many talks, Alfonso X agreed to most of the rebels' demands. Juan Núñez I's father, Nuño González, met with the queen, Violant of Aragon, in Córdoba. By the end of 1273, the exiled nobles returned to Castile.
In 1273, Juan Núñez I also went on a trip to Pope Gregory X for King Alfonso X. The king wanted the Pope to support his claim to be the Holy Roman Emperor, but the Pope tried to convince him to give up this goal.
Juan Núñez I was also present at a meeting of nobles in Toledo in 1275. There, King Alfonso X put his oldest son, Ferdinand de la Cerda, in charge of the kingdom. The king planned to travel to France and Germany to be crowned Emperor.
While Alfonso X was away, Juan Núñez I stayed with Prince Ferdinand. On July 25, 1275, Prince Ferdinand died. Before he died, he asked Juan Núñez I to protect the rights of his young sons, Alfonso de la Cerda and Ferdinand de la Cerda, known as the Infantes de la Cerda. After Ferdinand's death, Juan Núñez I helped carry his body to the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas for burial.
After Prince Ferdinand's death, his brother, Sancho, wanted to become king. Lope Díaz III de Haro, a powerful lord, agreed to help Sancho. In return, Sancho would protect Lope Díaz's interests.
In September 1275, Juan Núñez I's father, Nuño González de Lara, died in the Battle of Écija. Castilian forces were defeated by invaders from North Africa. His father's head was sent to Córdoba as a strange gesture of goodwill.
After his father's death, Juan Núñez I became the head of the House of Lara. He also became the main supporter of the Infantes de la Cerda's claim to the throne. His main rival, Lope Díaz III de Haro, supported Prince Sancho.
In 1276, Juan Núñez I left Castile and went to serve King Philip III of France. His brother, Nuño González de Lara y León, joined him. They became the main defenders of the Cerda family's claim in France. In a treaty, King Alfonso X promised to return Juan Núñez I's lands, but this wasn't fully enforced.
Later, in 1283, Juan Núñez I, his son Álvaro Núñez de Lara, and other nobles continued to fight against Prince Sancho. On April 4, 1284, King Alfonso X of Castile died. His son, Sancho IV of Castile, who was Juan Núñez I's enemy, became the new king.
During King Sancho IV's Rule (1276–1294)
In 1284, the city of Albarracín was captured by Aragonese troops. The Aragonese king gave the city to his son. After this, Juan Núñez I continued to serve King Philip III of France.
In 1287, Juan Núñez I's oldest son, Álvaro Núñez de Lara, died. In 1288, King Sancho IV of Castile killed Lope Díaz III de Haro, his former supporter. He also ordered the imprisonment of his own brother, John of Castile.
In 1289, Juan Núñez I made an agreement with King Sancho IV and returned to Castile. He sent his daughter, Juana Núñez de Lara, to be raised at the royal court. Sancho IV then named Juan Núñez I the "Frontero" (border commander) against Aragon and Diego López IV de Haro. Juan Núñez I also fought against those who had attacked his lands.
In April 1290, Juan Núñez I was in Burgos with the king. Some people at court told him that Sancho IV was planning to kill him. Juan Núñez I left the court. The king and queen tried to convince him it wasn't true. He didn't return to court but met with Queen María de Molina. An agreement seemed possible until the king made a truce with Diego López V de Haro, an enemy of the Lara family. Juan Núñez I then left Castile again, going to Navarre and then Aragon.
In Aragon, Juan Núñez I tried to get back the Lordship of Albarracín. He invaded Castile and attacked areas like Cuenca. His soldiers defeated the Castilian-Leonese troops. After this victory, Juan Núñez I and his son, Juan Núñez II de Lara, promised loyalty to King Alfonso III of Aragon. Juan Núñez I promised to help Alfonso III fight Sancho IV.
By late 1290, Juan Núñez I was unhappy with the King of Aragon because he hadn't gotten Albarracín back. He accepted offers from Sancho IV and returned to Castile. To ensure peace, his son, Juan Núñez II, married Isabel Alfonso de Molina, who was related to Queen María de Molina. This marriage also connected them to the Lordship of Molina, which the Lara family had once held.
Soon after, Juan Núñez I was with King Sancho IV in Toledo. Again, a knight told him the king was plotting his death. The king quickly denied it and called the knight a liar.
After this, Juan Núñez I joined Juan Alfonso de Meneses against Sancho IV. They convinced the king to release his brother, John of Castile, who had been in prison. In 1291, Sancho IV and Juan Núñez I agreed that Juan Núñez I's daughter, Juana Núñez de Lara, would marry King Sancho IV's son, Prince Alfonso. However, Prince Alfonso died that same year at age 5.
In 1292, Juan Núñez I became an enemy of King Sancho IV of Castile again and fled to France. He sought safety with King Philip IV of France. However, after Sancho IV sent a message to Philip IV, the French king stopped supporting Juan Núñez I and the Cerda brothers.
In August 1292, Juan Núñez I's daughter-in-law, Isabel Alfonso de Molina, died. This broke his family ties to Sancho IV. Juan Núñez I's son, Juan Núñez II de Lara, then joined his father in rebellion against the king, along with John of Castile. Juan Núñez II and John of Castile were defeated. John fled to Portugal, and Juan Núñez II had to make peace with Sancho IV.
Soon after, Juan Núñez I returned to Castile and offered to serve Sancho IV against his former ally, John of Castile. Juan Núñez I fought John of Castile, who defeated him and took him prisoner. Juan Núñez II, who was with the king, left to go to Portugal to ask for his father's release.
While a prisoner, Juan Núñez I convinced John of Castile that he would help him get back the Lordship of Biscay. Juan Núñez I was then freed. He sought protection from King Denis of Portugal, who helped him return to Castile.
Back in Castile, Sancho IV forgave Juan Núñez I. Juan Núñez I then went to his lands. Soon after, Sancho IV sent him to Andalucía to defend the border against armies from Granada and Morocco.
Death and Burial
Juan Núñez I de Lara died in Córdoba in April 1294. His body was taken to Burgos and buried at the Convento de San Pablo de Burgos. This was a convent belonging to the Dominican Order. Sadly, his remains and tomb disappeared when French forces attacked and destroyed the convent during the Peninsular War. The remaining ruins were later torn down in 1870 to build a military barracks.
Marriages and Children
Juan Núñez I had two marriages and several children.
His first marriage was before 1260 to Teresa Álvarez de Azagra. She was the daughter of Álvaro Pérez de Azagra, Lord of Albarracín. They had one son:
- Álvaro Núñez de Lara (born around 1261, died 1287).
His second marriage was to Teresa de Haro. She was the daughter of Diego López III de Haro, Lord of Biscay. They had four children:
- Juan Núñez II de Lara (born around 1276, died 1315).
- Nuño González de Lara (born around 1284, died 1296).
- Juana Núñez de Lara (born 1285, died 1351).
- Teresa Núñez de Lara y Haro (born around 1280, died around 1314).
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See also
In Spanish: Juan Núñez I de Lara para niños
- House of Lara
- House of Haro
- Sancho IV of Castile
- Señorío de Albarracín
- Siege of Albarracín (1284)
| Preceded by Nuño González de Lara "el Bueno" |
Head of the House of Lara 1275–1294 |
Succeeded by Juan Núñez II de Lara |
| Preceded by Fernán Pérez I Ponce de León |
Adelantado Mayor de la Frontera de Andalucía 1292 |
Succeeded by Juan de Castilla |
