Mutiny of the Trout facts for kids

The Mutiny of the Trout (Spanish: Motín de la Trucha) was a famous story about a rebellion that supposedly happened in Zamora, Spain, in late 1157. It's called "semi-legendary" because it's a very old story, first written down in the late 1400s. Historians are not sure if it really happened, as there are no records from the time it was supposed to have taken place.

How the Trout Trouble Started

The story says the trouble began over a single trout. The steward, who was like a manager for the town's governor, Gómez Álvarez de Vizcaya, wanted a special trout from a local fish seller. But the fish seller had already promised that trout to a shoemaker.

The steward insisted that the governor had the right to take the trout first. This led to a big argument. Other townspeople joined in to support the shoemaker. Because of this, the steward arrested the shoemaker and some of his friends.

The Uprising Begins

When the shoemaker and his supporters were arrested, it caused a big riot. Some local knights, including the oldest son of Count Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera (who was the governor of Zamora), met in a church to decide what to do.

The rioters then locked the knights inside the church and set it on fire. Everyone inside died. After that, the angry crowd destroyed the governor's house.

Fleeing to Portugal

Fearing what Count Ponce would do in revenge, many townspeople quickly fled. They went to the border of the Portuguese kingdom. From there, they sent messages to the king, Ferdinand II.

They asked the king to forgive them and to take away Count Ponce's lands and power. King Ferdinand worried that if he didn't agree, the people of Zamora would leave permanently and settle in Portugal, which was ruled by his enemy.

King Ferdinand's Decision

Some people at King Ferdinand's court who were against Count Ponce advised the king to agree to the townspeople's demands. So, King Ferdinand granted the pardon. He took away Count Ponce's governorships and sent him away from the kingdom.

Historians know that Count Ponce de Cabrera was indeed sent away from the kingdom around this time. However, the story of the Mutiny of the Trout is the only one that gives this specific reason for his exile.

Was the Story True?

Even though the story of the trout mutiny is not fully proven, some historians believe parts of it might be true. Rebellions in cities were common in the Kingdom of León during that time. For example, there were uprisings in Lugo in 1161, and in Salamanca and Ávila in 1162.

Count Ponce de Cabrera did return to power later. He went to King Sancho III of Castile of Castile, who helped him get back into King Ferdinand's good graces. Count Ponce was then able to return to Zamora and get his position back.

See also

In Spanish: Motín de la Trucha para niños