Sancho of Aragon (archbishop of Toledo) facts for kids
Sancho of Aragon (born 1250 – died 1275) was a prince from the Kingdom of Aragon. He also became an important religious leader, the Archbishop of Toledo. He is remembered for his brave actions and for losing his life in a battle against the Moors.
Early Life and Becoming Archbishop
Sancho was a son of King James I of Aragon. His mother was Yolanda of Hungary. When he was young, Sancho joined a religious group called the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. He had a teacher named Peter Pascual. By the age of 16, in 1266, Sancho became the Archbishop of Toledo. This was a very important position in the church.
Battle and Heroic Death
In 1275, armies from the Marinid dynasty attacked a region in Spain called Andalusia. Sancho gathered his own troops to fight against them. On October 21, 1275, he tried to stop a much larger Marinid army near a town called Martos.
Sancho's forces were defeated in the battle of Martos. He was captured and sadly died during the conflict.
Legacy and Veneration
After his death, Sancho's body was recovered. He was buried in the grand Toledo Cathedral. Because he died so bravely defending his people, many considered him a hero. People began to honor him as a martyr, someone who dies for their beliefs. He is now known as Blessed Sancho of Aragon.
