Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros facts for kids
Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros was an important noble from the Castile who lived in the early 1200s. He was active between 1212 and 1221. He was also one of the first Galician-Portuguese troubadours, which means he wrote and sang poems.
Rodrigo was the son of Diego Ximénez, who was the lord of Cameros in La Rioja. His mother was Guiomar Rodríguez. Rodrigo became a count, which was a very high noble rank, just like his grandparents.
Contents
Fighting in Battles
Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros was a military leader. He fought in the important Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212.
At the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, Rodrigo led a group of soldiers. He commanded his troops in the middle of the army of Alfonso VIII of Castile. His soldiers mainly came from areas like Asturias, Biscay, and Old Castile.
Rodrigo was one of the top commanders in the battle. He was third in command after Diego López II de Haro and Gonzalo Núñez de Lara. His brother, Alvar Díaz, also helped lead their group of soldiers.
Political Challenges
Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros was involved in some political disagreements with the royal family.
Challenging the Queen
In 1217, King Henry I of Castile died. Rodrigo and eight other nobles did not think Henry's older sister, Berenguela, should become queen. They believed her younger sister, Blanche, who was queen of France, should have been next in line.
Rebellion Against the King
Later, from 1220 to 1221, Rodrigo and his noble friends rebelled against Berenguela's son, Ferdinand III, who became king. They even offered the throne to Blanche's son, who would later become Louis IX of France.
Rodrigo had borrowed money from the king. He used this money to help pay for a Crusade to the Holy Land. However, he refused to attend a meeting called by the king. He also kept control of some lands and castles that he was not supposed to.
Loss of Property
Because of his rebellion, Rodrigo lost most of his castles and lands. In December 1221, Rodrigo and his brother Alvar showed loyalty to Sancho VII of Navarre. They did this for the castle of Los Fayos, even though they were subjects of the Castilian crown.
Poetic Life
Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros was also known for his poetry. He was a Galician-Portuguese troubadour.
His Songs
We know that Rodrigo wrote three songs. However, none of these songs have survived to today. He is the only Galician-Portuguese poet known to have visited the court of King Alfonso VIII.
Influences and Connections
Rodrigo also spent time at the court of Diego López de Haro. Diego López de Haro supported many Occitan troubadours. These poets, like Elias Cairel and Guillem Magret, likely influenced Rodrigo's own poetry.
Family Life
Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros married Aldonza, who was the daughter of Diego López de Haro. They had at least one son named Simón Royz. Simón Royz was active during the reign of Alfonso X from about 1246 to 1277.
See also
In Spanish: Rodrigo Díaz de los Cameros para niños