Rodrigo Martínez facts for kids
Rodrigo Martínez was an important nobleman from the Kingdom of León in Spain. He lived a long time ago, dying in July 1138. Rodrigo was a powerful leader, a landowner, and a trusted advisor to King Alfonso VII. He was also a military commander and a diplomat, meaning he helped talk to other leaders for the king.
Rodrigo was known as one of the most powerful people in the western part of a region called Tierra de Campos. He visited King Alfonso VII's court very often between 1127 and 1138. He belonged to a famous family called the Flagínez family. Rodrigo reached the highest ranks in the kingdom. Sadly, he died fighting in a battle.
He was the oldest son of Martín Flaínez and Sancha Fernández. Rodrigo worked closely with his brothers, Pedro and Osorio Martínez. All three brothers died in battle. There's a story that Martín Flaínez gave gifts to a monastery because the monks helped Rodrigo when he was young.
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Working for the King: Governor and Diplomat
Rodrigo Martínez began his public career around May 1110. He started by governing different areas for the king. These areas were called tenencias. In 1117, he governed Castroverde. He also governed Becilla de Valderaduey for many years, from 1117 to 1136.
From 1125 to 1137, Rodrigo was in charge of Aguilar de Campoo. When Queen Urraca died in 1126, King Alfonso VII took full control of the fortress in León. Rodrigo and other important nobles showed their loyalty to the new king.
Rodrigo continued to govern many places. In 1134, he governed Mayorga. In 1135, he was in charge of both Atienza and Medina del Campo at the same time. Later, in 1137, he governed Calahorra. He also governed the entire region of Tierra de Campos between 1136 and 1137. It seems he also ruled in Grajal de Campos at some point. From 1126 until he died in 1138, he held the important "towers of León" for the king.
By the end of 1128, Rodrigo had become a Count. This was a very high rank in the kingdom. He had his own staff, including a chief assistant called a majordomo. In 1131, he also had a vicar (a local representative) in Zamora.
In 1133, Rodrigo Martínez and another nobleman, Gutierre Fernández de Castro, went on an important trip. They traveled to Rueda de Jalón to talk with a Muslim prince named Sayf al-Dawla. They were welcomed and given wonderful gifts. They even brought Sayf back to León to meet King Alfonso VII. The king rewarded Rodrigo for his loyalty in 1135. He gave Rodrigo some lands that had been taken from a rebel named Gonzalo Peláez.
Family Life and Land
On October 7, 1123, Rodrigo gave a gift to a monastery in Sahagún. He also gave land to Gonzalo Alfonso and Teresa Peláez in 1131. Rodrigo had a disagreement with the Bishop of León, Arias II, about some property between 1130 and 1132.
In 1133, King Alfonso VII gave special rights to Rodrigo's land at Castellanos. This meant Rodrigo could collect taxes and manage justice there. He could also ask men from the area to serve in his army. Royal officials were not allowed to enter without his permission.
Rodrigo married Urraca Fernández. She was the daughter of Fernando Garcés de Hita and Estefanía Armengol. They were engaged when Urraca was very young, about ten years old. On November 21, 1129, Rodrigo gave her a special gift called a bridewealth. This gift included eleven villages. This gift was written down in a document called a carta de arras.
Rodrigo and Urraca did not have any children that we know of. However, they worked together to buy many properties. They bought lands all over the region, from Carrión in the east to León in the west, and Zamora in the south. These properties were called gananciales. After Rodrigo died, King Alfonso VII bought these lands from Urraca.
Military Actions and Death
In 1130, there was a rebellion against King Alfonso VII. Rodrigo Martínez and his brother Osorio were called upon to fight a rebel supporter named Pedro Díaz. They surrounded Pedro's castle. The king himself came, and the castle was captured and destroyed.
The Chronica Adefonsi, a historical record, tells us that Rodrigo had a tough reputation. People were afraid of falling into his hands. The town of Coyanza surrendered to the king directly to avoid being captured by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo Martínez died in July 1138 during the Siege of Coria. He was helping King Alfonso VII with his own group of knights, called a mesnada. The siege was part of a military campaign into al-Andalus, a Muslim-controlled area.
The Chronica Adefonsi describes his death: Rodrigo was on a tall wooden tower, attacking the city walls. Many knights and archers were with him. Suddenly, an enemy shot an arrow that hit the tower. The arrow went through the tower's defenses and hit Rodrigo in the neck. It went through his helmet and armor, wounding him.
Even though he was hurt, Rodrigo pulled the arrow out. But he started bleeding a lot. Doctors could not stop the bleeding. Rodrigo told those around him, "Take off my armor, for I am very sad." They took off his armor and carried him to his tent. They tried to help him all day, but he died around sunset.
Everyone in the army was very sad when they heard the news. When King Alfonso returned from hunting, he was told about Rodrigo's death. The king then appointed Rodrigo's brother, Osorio, to take his place as count.
The siege was stopped the next day. Rodrigo's body was taken to his burial place in León by his brother Osorio and his soldiers. Rodrigo was buried in his family's tomb next to his parents. This church was possibly the monastery of San Pedro de los Huertos. Osorio took over Rodrigo's titles and lands, including Aguilar, the Campos, León, and Zamora.
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See also
In Spanish: Rodrigo Martínez para niños
