Sancho I of Pamplona facts for kids

Sancho Garcés I (born around 860 – died December 10, 925), also known as Sancho I, was the king of Pamplona from 905 to 925. He was the son of García Jiménez. Sancho I was important because he was the first king from the Jiménez dynasty to rule Pamplona. He started as a local leader in the Onsella valley and grew his power to control many nearby areas. In 905, the nobles of Pamplona chose him to become king, replacing Fortún Garcés.

Sancho I's Life Story

Sancho Garcés was born around the year 860. His father was García Jiménez and his mother was Dadildis de Pallars. When King García Íñiguez died, Sancho was already ruling the Onsella valley in the western part of the kingdom.

He managed to take control of the city of Pamplona. He did this with help from Alfonso III of Asturias and the Count of Pallars. They worked with the nobles of Pamplona to remove the king's children from the line to the throne. The right to rule then passed to the king's granddaughter, Toda, who was married to Sancho Garcés. In 905, Sancho declared himself King of Pamplona.

Throughout his time as king, Sancho often got involved in fights among the Muslim leaders to the south. He was very successful in these conflicts. In 907, he fought against his former friend Lubb ibn Muhammad and killed him in battle.

Four years later, another former friend, Galindo Aznárez II, teamed up with his brother-in-law Muhammad al-Tawil and Abd Allah ibn Lubb al-Qasawi to attack Sancho. But Sancho defeated them, stopping them from being a threat. Al-Tawil ran away and was killed soon after. The power of the Banu Qasi family was greatly weakened. Galindo was forced to become Sancho's subject. This led to the County of Aragon becoming part of the Pamplona kingdom.

In 918, Sancho joined forces with Ordoño II of León to attack a region called the Upper March. They did not manage to take Nájera. However, they captured Calahorra, Arnedo, and Viguera from the Banu Qasi. They also attacked Valtierra. Even though they could not take its fortress, they burned its mosque and the lands around it.

Two years later, Sancho worked with Bernard I of Ribagorza and Amrus ibn Muhammed to attack Monzón, which was held by the Banu Qasi. Sancho's victories allowed him to add Lower Navarre to his lands. He also extended his territory as far as Nájera. To show thanks for his victories, he founded the monastery of San Martín de Albelda in 924.

Sancho I died near the town of Resa, close to the Ebro river, on December 10, 925. He was buried in Villamayor de Monjardín. His son, García, was only seven years old. So, Sancho was followed as king by his brother, Jimeno Garcés.

Sancho was likely the first king to be called Abarca. This name means "sandal" or "leather shoe." Later, people mistakenly thought his grandson, Sancho II of Pamplona, had this nickname. Sancho I started a royal family that would rule several kingdoms in Spain. This family ruled until the 13th century. Scholars from Al-Andalus called his family the Banu Sanyo or the Banu Abarca, showing his role as the family's founder.

Sancho I's Family

The Kingdom of Pamplona around the time Sancho I died.

Sancho Garcés was married to Toda Aznárez. She was the daughter of Count Aznar Sánchez and Onneca Fortúnez. Onneca Fortúnez was the daughter of Fortún Garcés.

Sancho and Toda had one son, García, and five daughters. Most of their daughters married kings or counts:

• Urraca Sánchez: She became the queen of the Kingdom of León from 931 to 951. She married Ramiro II of León.
• Onneca Sánchez: She was queen of the Kingdom of León from 926 to 931. She married Alfonso IV of León.
• Sancha Sánchez: She was queen of León as the third wife of King Ordoño II. After his death, she married Álvaro Herraméliz, who was the count of Álava. After he died, she married Fernán González, the count of Castile.
• Velasquita Sánchez: She married Munio Vélaz, who was also a count of Álava. Later, she married Galindo of Ribargoza, and then Fortún Galindez.
• Orbita Sánchez: We do not know much about her life.
• García Sánchez I: He became King of Pamplona from 925 to 970. He first married Andregoto Galíndez, daughter of the Count of Aragon Galindo Aznárez II. Later, he married Teresa Ramírez, daughter of Ramiro II of León.

See also

In Spanish: Sancho Garcés I de Pamplona para niños