Nuño Álvarez de Carazo facts for kids
Nuño Álvarez de Carazo was an important nobleman, diplomat, and warrior from the Kingdom of Castile. He was active between the years 1028 and 1054. Nuño had very important connections with the Kingdom of Navarre, because his lands were right next to its border.
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Who Was Nuño Álvarez de Carazo?
Nuño Álvarez de Carazo was a powerful and respected person in Castile. He was known as a nobleman, which means he came from an important family. He was also a diplomat, someone who helps countries talk to each other. And he was a warrior, meaning he fought in battles.
He is mentioned in many old documents from 1033 to 1054. These documents often call him duenno or domno, which were special titles of respect. He was the oldest brother in his family. Some people believe he might have been the great-uncle of a famous Spanish hero named Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid.
Nuño's family owned land in places like Carazo and Lara de los Infantes. This means his power and lands in that area probably came from his family. His lands were near the river Arlanza and also included properties in Peñalba and Vilviestre del Pinar. These areas were important because they were close to the border with Navarre. Old records from monasteries like San Pedro de Arlanza and San Pedro de Cardeña show how important Nuño was in this border region.
Keeping the Peace: Border Agreements
In 1016, the kings of Navarre and Castile, Sancho III of Navarre and Sancho García of Castile, made an agreement about their border. Later, between 1030 and 1035, Nuño Álvarez and his neighbor from Navarre, named Fortún Ochoiz, re-confirmed this border. This agreement was about the border as it passed through the Sierra de la Demanda mountains.
This important record is found in an old book called a cartulary from the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. A cartulary is like a collection of copies of important documents. This record helps us understand how the border was managed. It's possible that Nuño and Fortún confirmed the border on their own, perhaps even without full permission from their kings, to keep peace in their local areas.
After 1035, a region called La Bureba became part of Navarre. This area was originally part of Old Castile. Even though his lands were in Castile, Nuño often visited the court of García Sánchez III of Navarre, the king of Navarre. He visited when the court was in Oña, which was an important town and where King Sancho III was buried.
The people who wrote down the records in Navarre called Nuño and other Castilians "these are Castilians." They often put their names at the bottom of witness lists. This might have been because Nuño was loyal to Ferdinand I of Castile, who was often in disagreement with his brother, King García of Navarre.
A Warrior's End
Nuño Álvarez de Carazo likely died fighting in a big battle called the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054. He was probably fighting alongside his king, Ferdinand I of Castile, against the king of Navarre. His brother Fortún also likely died in the same battle.
See also
In Spanish: Nuño Álvarez de Carazo para niños
