Sancho II of Pamplona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sancho II |
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Sancho II of Pamplona, in the Codex Vigilanus
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| King of Pamplona | |
| Reign | 970–994 |
| Predecessor | García I |
| Successor | García II |
| Count of Aragon | |
| Reign | 948–994 |
| Predecessor | Andregoto Galíndez |
| Successor | García II |
| Died | 994 |
| Burial | San Juan de la Peña |
| Consort | Urraca Fernández |
| Issue | García Sánchez Ramiro Gonzalo Urraca or Sancha (Abda) |
| House | House of Jiménez |
| Father | García Sánchez I |
| Mother | Andregoto Galíndez |
| Religion | Catholicism |
Sancho Garcés II (also known as Sancho II) was a powerful ruler in what is now Spain. He was the King of Pamplona and Count of Aragon. He ruled from 970 until he passed away in 994.
Sancho II was the oldest son of García Sánchez I of Pamplona and Andregoto Galíndez. During his time as king, he officially recognized the Kingdom of Viguera.
Contents
Understanding His Nickname
You might sometimes hear Sancho II called Sancho Abarca. This nickname means "the Sandal-wearer." However, this name was first used by writers many centuries after he lived.
They were a bit confused about who ruled Pamplona when. It seems they mixed up Sancho II with his grandfather, Sancho I of Pamplona. Most evidence suggests that the nickname "Abarca" actually belonged to Sancho I.
Early Life and Becoming King
Sancho Garcés was born around the year 938. His father was García Sánchez I of Pamplona, the second king of Pamplona from the Jiménez dynasty. His mother was Andregoto Galíndez.
His mother's father, Galindo Aznárez II, was the Count of Aragon. He had no sons, so the rights to Aragon passed to Sancho's mother. She then passed these rights to Sancho.
Sancho became the Count of Aragon in 948, even though he was still young. A guardian named Count Fortún Jiménez helped him at first. When his father died in 970, Sancho became King of Pamplona. He was then known as Sancho II.
Royal Titles and Important Works
In 987, Sancho II made a gift to the monastery of San Juan de la Peña. In the records, he called himself "king of Navarre." He was the first ruler to use this title. However, this name for the kingdom did not become common until much later.
In 972, he started a new monastery called San Andrés de Cirueña. A very important book was finished in 976 at the Albelda monastery. This book was called the Codex Vigilanus.
The Codex Vigilanus was a major cultural and intellectual work. It contained important church laws and legal texts. It also had the first known Western drawing of Arabic numerals.
Battles and Diplomacy
Sancho's kingdom grew stronger under his rule. But it also faced many tough battles against the Umayyad armies. Navarre was connected to the Kingdom of León and the County of Castile through family ties.
These kingdoms often worked together. Sancho's kingdom supported the young Ramiro III of León in his rule.
After the death of the Caliph of Cordoba, Al-Hakam II, in 976, things became harder for the Christian kingdoms. Al-Hakam's son, Hisham II, became caliph. His powerful general, Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir, led many attacks.
Al-Mansur's troops defeated the Christians at Torrevicente. They also won at Taracueña. In 975, Sancho was defeated by the Moors at San Esteban de Gormaz. Some historians think he might have been captured at the Battle of Estercuel that year.
In 981, the Christians suffered another big loss at the Battle of Rueda. Since he could not defeat Al-Mansur in battle, Sancho decided to try diplomacy. He traveled to Córdoba as a representative for his kingdom.
He brought many gifts for Al-Mansur and made a peace agreement. As part of this agreement, Sancho gave his daughter to Al-Mansur. Their son, Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo, later tried to take over the Caliphate of Córdoba.
Al-Mansur continued to attack Sancho's kingdom in 989, 991, and 992. After the attack in 992, Sancho had to submit to Al-Mansur again. The next year, he sent his son Gonzalo to the Caliphate to make their relationship stronger. In 994, the year Sancho died, his kingdom faced another attack from the caliphate army.
Family Life
Sancho Garcés was married to Urraca Fernández. She was the daughter of Fernán González, the Count of Castile. They had four children together.
- García Sánchez: He became King of Pamplona and Count of Aragon after his father died in 994. He married Jimena Fernández.
- Ramiro Sánchez: He passed away in 992. His parents made a special gift to the San Millán de la Cogolla monastery for his soul.
- Gonzalo Sánchez: His brother gave him some lands in Aragon.
- Urraca or Sancha Sanchez: She was known in Arabic as Abda. Her father gave her to Almanzor, whom she married after becoming a Muslim. Abda and Almanzor had one son, named Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo.
Sancho II died in 994. He was first buried in San Estebán de Monjardín. Later, his body was moved to the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña.
See also
In Spanish: Sancho Garcés II de Pamplona para niños
