Sancho Garcés, Lord of Uncastillo facts for kids

Sancho Garcés (born around 1038 – died January 6, 1083) was an important figure in the history of Navarre. He was a son of King García Sánchez III of Pamplona. Sancho was also a cousin to King Alfonso VI of León.

He was given control over lands like Uncastillo and Sangüesa. Sancho Garcés was the father of Ramiro Sánchez. His grandson, García Ramírez, later became the first king of a new family line in Navarre.

Sancho Garcés's Life

Sancho Garcés was born around 1038. His father was King García Sánchez III. Sancho's mother was not the queen, but another woman. He was born before his father married Stephanie.

Sancho was given important roles. He was made the tenant-in-chief (a lord in charge of a castle or area) of Uncastillo and Sangüesa. He might have also governed other places. These include Ruesta (in 1058), Surta (1065), Autol (1071), and Anguiano and Tobía (1073).

Sancho had several half-siblings from his father's marriage to Queen Stephanie. These included King Sancho Garcés IV and Ramiro Garcés. He also had a half-sister named Mencía Garcés.

The Disaster at Rueda

In 1083, Sancho Garcés joined an army. This army was led by his brother Ramiro and Count Gonzalo Salvadórez. King Alfonso VI had sent them. Their mission was to take control of a rebel Muslim castle called Rueda.

On January 6, 1083, the Castilian soldiers entered the castle. The castle's defenders had pretended to surrender. But it was a trick. They attacked the soldiers with stones. This event is known as the 'disaster' or 'treachery of Rueda'. Sancho Garcés, his brother Ramiro, and Count Gonzalo were all killed. Many other nobles also died that day.

Sancho's Family and a Legend

Sancho Garcés married a woman named Constanza. They were married before November 25, 1057. This is known from old documents. These documents show them together.

The Abduction Story

There is an old story about Constanza. Some historians believe she might have been a daughter of Queen Stephanie. Queen Stephanie was Sancho's father's wife. The story says that King Sancho II of Castile was going to marry one of Queen Stephanie's daughters.

But then, Sancho Garcés, who was a son of King García and another woman, fell in love with the bride. He took her away while she was traveling to meet her future husband. He took her first to the court of the Muslim king of Zaragoza. Later, he went to his uncle, King Ramiro. King Ramiro loved Sancho like his own son.

This event supposedly started a war. It was between the kings of Castile and Aragón. King Ramiro died in this war in 1063. This story is from an old book called the Chronica Naierensis. While it sounds like a legend, the people mentioned in the story were real. So, it might have some truth to it.

An old paper from 1074 also suggests a family connection. In this paper, King Sancho Garcés IV gives land to his brother Sancho. He calls Constanza "my sister." This could mean she was his sister-in-law or a half-sister.

Sancho and Constanza's Children

Sancho and Constanza had two children:

• Ramiro Sánchez, Lord of Monzón: He married Cristina Rodríguez. She was the daughter of the famous knight El Cid and Jimena Díaz.
• Estefanía Sánchez: She married a count from León named Fruela Díaz.

See also

In Spanish: Sancho Garcés (infante de Pamplona) para niños