Urraca of Castile, Queen of Navarre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Urraca the Asturian |
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Sepulcro de la reina Urraca, Catedral de Palencia
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| Queen consort of Navarre | |
| Tenure | 1144–1150 |
| Born | 1133 Pelúgano |
| Died | 1179 Palencia |
| Burial | Chapel of Santa María Magdalena, Cathedral of Palencia |
| Spouse | García Ramírez of Navarre Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro |
| Issue | Sancha, Viscountess of Béarn Sancho Álvarez de Castro |
| House | Castilian House of Ivrea |
| Father | Alfonso VII of León |
| Mother | Gontrodo Pérez |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Urraca Alfonso (born 1133 – died around 1179), also known as Urraca the Asturian, was a daughter of Alfonso VII of León. She became Queen of Navarre when she married García Ramírez of Navarre.
After her husband died, Urraca returned to her home region. She served as the ruler of Asturias from 1153 to 1165. Urraca was part of a rebellion against her half-brother, King Ferdinand II of León. With her second husband, Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro, she tried to make Asturias independent.
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Early Life and Family
Urraca was born in 1133 in Pelúgano. Her parents were King Alfonso VII and his partner, Gontrodo Pérez. She was born one year after her parents' relationship began. At this time, the king was still married to Berengaria of Barcelona.
Urraca's mother, Gontrodo, went to live in a convent a year after Urraca was born. Urraca was then raised at the royal court. Her aunt, Infanta Sancha Raimúndez, helped to raise her.
Urraca first married García Ramírez of Navarre in León on June 24, 1144. This was García's second marriage. His first wife, Marguerite de l'Aigle, had died just a month before.
Their marriage helped García strengthen his ties with Urraca's father, who was his overlord. Urraca and García were married for six years. García died on November 21, 1150. His son from his first marriage, Sancho VI of Navarre, became king after him. Urraca's half-sister, Sancha, later married Sancho and became the next Queen of Navarre.
Ruler of Asturias
After her husband García died in 1150, Queen Urraca returned to her home region. Her father sent her to govern Asturias. Urraca lived in the Palace of Alfonso II of Asturias in Oviedo. This palace was next to the Cathedral of Oviedo.
Her father gave her many properties, including the lordship of Aller. Queen Urraca ruled Asturias from 1153 until 1165. She even kept her power after her father died in 1157.
Second Marriage and Rebellion
Sometime before 1163, Urraca married again. Her second husband was Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro. Álvaro was an important noble and a military leader for King Fernando II of León.
Records from monasteries show that Urraca and Álvaro ruled Asturias together. For example, a document from 1163 mentions "Alvaro Rodríguez with his wife Urraca governing Asturias." Another document from 1165 also states that Queen Urraca was governing Asturias with her husband Álvaro.
Urraca and Álvaro were involved in an uprising. They wanted Asturias to be independent. A record from a monastery mentions that "Queen doña Urraca and don Álvaro Roderici wanted King Fernando II to lose Asturias." In early 1164, King Fernando II thanked the Bishop of Oviedo for helping to stop the uprising in Asturias.
During this time, Urraca and Álvaro were very generous to the Church in Asturias. They gave many donations to places like the Cathedral of Oviedo. They also gave to the monastery of San Pelayo de Oviedo. Urraca also worked with her mother to start the monastery of Santa María de la Vega. Her mother, Gontrodo, was later buried there.
Death
Urraca died in Palencia sometime after 1164. The exact date of her death is not known for sure. Some old writings say she died on October 26, 1164. However, this cannot be right. She appeared with her second husband in a document in 1165. She also made a donation in 1178.
Other sources say she died in 1189. But according to the Anales toledanos, she died in 1179. Queen Urraca was buried in the chapel of Santa María Magdalena. This chapel is in the Cathedral of Palencia. She may have been buried there because her second husband's family, the House of Castro, had ruled in Palencia.
Children
Urraca had children from both of her marriages.
Children with García Ramírez
- Sancha (1148–1176): She first married Gaston V of Béarn. Later, she married Pedro Manrique de Lara, who was a Viscount of Narbonne.
Children with Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro
- Sancho Álvarez de Castro (born around 1164 – died after 1196): A document from 1196 mentions him as "Governing Asturias Sancho Álvarez, son of Queen Urraca."
See also
In Spanish: Urraca la Asturiana para niños
