Santa Gadea facts for kids
Santa Gadea (also known as Iglesia de Santa Águeda in Spanish) is a historic church in Burgos, Spain. It is named after Saint Agatha. This church is famous because of an important event that happened there a long time ago.
The Famous Oath of Santa Gadea
The Church of Santa Gadea is well-known in Spanish history and stories. It was the place where a very important event took place involving the famous knight, El Cid (whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar), and King Alfonso VI.
In the year 1072, after the death of King Sancho II, his brother Alfonso became the new king. However, there were rumors that King Alfonso might have been involved in his brother Sancho's death. To clear his name and prove his innocence, El Cid, acting on behalf of the important leaders and nobles of the Castilian kingdom (called the Cortes), made King Alfonso VI swear a special oath.
This oath happened inside the Santa Gadea Church. King Alfonso had to promise, under a very serious vow, that he had nothing to do with his brother Sancho's death. This event is known as the "Jura de Santa Gadea" (The Oath of Santa Gadea). It showed how powerful El Cid was and how important it was for a king to be seen as trustworthy.
The Story in Literature
The story of the Oath of Santa Gadea became a very popular tale. One of the most famous medieval Spanish poems, called a "romance," is about this exact event. It's titled Es el de la jura de Santa Gadea. These "romances" were like popular songs or poems that told heroic stories from the past.
Santa Gadea Church Today
The church building you see today is not exactly the same as it was when El Cid and King Alfonso were there. Over many centuries, churches often get rebuilt or changed. However, the exact spot where the famous oath took place is still remembered. There is a special metal plate with an inscription on the outside wall, right next to the church door. This plate tells visitors about the important historical event that happened at that very spot.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Águeda (Burgos) para niños
