Individual Details
Urraca Queen of Castilla and León
(1082 - 4 Mar 1126)
Urraca was born about 1080, the daughter of Alfonso VI 'the Brave', king of Castile and León, and his second wife Constance de Bourgogne. She became heiress to her father's kingdom after her only brother, Sancho of Castile, was killed at the Battle of Ucles in 1108. She was queen of León and Castile from 1109 to her death.
In 1095 she was married to Raymond de Bourgogne, son of Guillaume I, comte de Bourgogne, and his wife Stephanie. They had two children, Alfonso VII who would have progeny, and Sancha. Raymond died in September 1107. As a widow, Urraca was ruler of Galicia. She was also her father's only surviving legitimate child, and now heiress to Castile. King Alfonso VI selected a new husband for her. His choice fell on Alfonso I, king of Aragón and Navarre, who he hoped would safeguard the kingdom. Alfonso was renowned as a great warrior. According to the chronicler Ibn al-Athir, he had once remarked that 'a real soldier lives with men, not with women'.
Urraca and Alfonso of Aragón were related within forbidden degrees, being second cousins. Bernard, archbishop of Toledo, objected to the marriage on these grounds. Nevertheless, Urraca and Alfonso were married in October 1109 in Monzón, three months after the death of her father. Their inability to produce a child created a rift between them and Urraca accused Alfonso of being physically abusive to her. The royal couple were separated and in October of 1110 or 1111 her supporters fought a battle against Alfonso's forces at Candespina, in which her premier nobleman, lover and former aspirant to her hand, Conde Gómez González, was killed. Their marriage was annulled in 1114. Urraca never remarried, though she took as lover another powerful nobleman, Conde Pedro González de Lara, by whom she had two children. She recognised their son, Fernando Perez Furtado, in 1123.
Urraca's reign was disturbed by strife among the powerful nobles and especially by constant warfare with her husband who had seized her lands. Another thorn in her side was her brother-in-law Henri, count of Portugal, the husband of her half-sister Teresa of León. He alternatively allied with Alfonso I of Aragón, then betrayed Alfonso for a better offer from Urraca's court. After Henri's death in 1112, his widow Teresa still contested ownership of lands with Urraca. With the aid of her son Alfonso, Urraca was able to win back much of her domain and ruled successfully for many years.
Urraca died at Saldańa on 8 March 1126. According to the _Chronicon Compostellanum_ she died in childbirth. The father was her lover Conde Pedro González de Lara. She was succeeded by her legitimate son Alfonso, who ruled as Alfonso VII.
Source: Leo van de Pas
In 1095 she was married to Raymond de Bourgogne, son of Guillaume I, comte de Bourgogne, and his wife Stephanie. They had two children, Alfonso VII who would have progeny, and Sancha. Raymond died in September 1107. As a widow, Urraca was ruler of Galicia. She was also her father's only surviving legitimate child, and now heiress to Castile. King Alfonso VI selected a new husband for her. His choice fell on Alfonso I, king of Aragón and Navarre, who he hoped would safeguard the kingdom. Alfonso was renowned as a great warrior. According to the chronicler Ibn al-Athir, he had once remarked that 'a real soldier lives with men, not with women'.
Urraca and Alfonso of Aragón were related within forbidden degrees, being second cousins. Bernard, archbishop of Toledo, objected to the marriage on these grounds. Nevertheless, Urraca and Alfonso were married in October 1109 in Monzón, three months after the death of her father. Their inability to produce a child created a rift between them and Urraca accused Alfonso of being physically abusive to her. The royal couple were separated and in October of 1110 or 1111 her supporters fought a battle against Alfonso's forces at Candespina, in which her premier nobleman, lover and former aspirant to her hand, Conde Gómez González, was killed. Their marriage was annulled in 1114. Urraca never remarried, though she took as lover another powerful nobleman, Conde Pedro González de Lara, by whom she had two children. She recognised their son, Fernando Perez Furtado, in 1123.
Urraca's reign was disturbed by strife among the powerful nobles and especially by constant warfare with her husband who had seized her lands. Another thorn in her side was her brother-in-law Henri, count of Portugal, the husband of her half-sister Teresa of León. He alternatively allied with Alfonso I of Aragón, then betrayed Alfonso for a better offer from Urraca's court. After Henri's death in 1112, his widow Teresa still contested ownership of lands with Urraca. With the aid of her son Alfonso, Urraca was able to win back much of her domain and ruled successfully for many years.
Urraca died at Saldańa on 8 March 1126. According to the _Chronicon Compostellanum_ she died in childbirth. The father was her lover Conde Pedro González de Lara. She was succeeded by her legitimate son Alfonso, who ruled as Alfonso VII.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1082 | ||||
| Marriage | Abt 1095 | Toledo - Count Raymond de Bourgogne | |||
| Death | 4 Mar 1126 | Saldana | |||
| Biography | Biography |  |
Families
| Spouse | Count Raymond de Bourgogne (1045 - 1107) |
| Child | Alfonso VII King of Castilla y León (1105 - 1157) |
| Child | Alfonso VII King of Castilla (1105 - 1157) |
| Father | Alfonso VI King of Castilla (1039 - 1109) |
| Mother | Constance de Bourgogne (1046 - 1093) |
Notes
Biography
Urraca was born about 1080, the daughter of Alfonso VI 'the Brave', king of Castile and León, and his second wife Constance de Bourgogne. She became heiress to her father's kingdom after her only brother, Sancho of Castile, was killed at the Battle of Ucles in 1108. She was queen of León and Castile from 1109 to her death.In 1095 she was married to Raymond de Bourgogne, son of Guillaume I, comte de Bourgogne, and his wife Stephanie. They had two children, Alfonso VII who would have progeny, and Sancha. Raymond died in September 1107. As a widow, Urraca was ruler of Galicia. She was also her father's only surviving legitimate child, and now heiress to Castile. King Alfonso VI selected a new husband for her. His choice fell on Alfonso I, king of Aragón and Navarre, who he hoped would safeguard the kingdom. Alfonso was renowned as a great warrior. According to the chronicler Ibn al-Athir, he had once remarked that 'a real soldier lives with men, not with women'.
Urraca and Alfonso of Aragón were related within forbidden degrees, being second cousins. Bernard, archbishop of Toledo, objected to the marriage on these grounds. Nevertheless, Urraca and Alfonso were married in October 1109 in Monzón, three months after the death of her father. Their inability to produce a child created a rift between them and Urraca accused Alfonso of being physically abusive to her. The royal couple were separated and in October of 1110 or 1111 her supporters fought a battle against Alfonso's forces at Candespina, in which her premier nobleman, lover and former aspirant to her hand, Conde Gómez González, was killed. Their marriage was annulled in 1114. Urraca never remarried, though she took as lover another powerful nobleman, Conde Pedro González de Lara, by whom she had two children. She recognised their son, Fernando Perez Furtado, in 1123.
Urraca's reign was disturbed by strife among the powerful nobles and especially by constant warfare with her husband who had seized her lands. Another thorn in her side was her brother-in-law Henri, count of Portugal, the husband of her half-sister Teresa of León. He alternatively allied with Alfonso I of Aragón, then betrayed Alfonso for a better offer from Urraca's court. After Henri's death in 1112, his widow Teresa still contested ownership of lands with Urraca. With the aid of her son Alfonso, Urraca was able to win back much of her domain and ruled successfully for many years.
Urraca died at Saldaña on 8 March 1126. According to the _Chronicon Compostellanum_ she died in childbirth. The father was her lover Conde Pedro González de Lara. She was succeeded by her legitimate son Alfonso, who ruled as Alfonso VII.