Father Alfonso V of Leon Role Queen of Leon Name Sancha Leon | Religion Roman Catholicism Mother Elvira Menendez Siblings Bermudo III of Leon | |
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Burial Basilica of San Isidoro Issue Urraca of ZamoraSancho IIElvira of ToroAlfonso VIGarcia II Died November 27, 1067, Leon, Spain Children Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile, Sancho II of Castile and Leon, Urraca of Zamora, Garcia II of Galicia, Elvira of Toro Parents Alfonso V of Leon, Elvira Menendez Similar People Ferdinand I of Leon, Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile, Alfonso V of Leon, Bermudo III of Leon, Urraca of Leon and Castile | ||
Sancha of León (? – 27 November 1067) was a Queen of León.
Contents
Life
Sancha was a daughter of Alfonso V of León by his first wife, Elvira Menéndez. She became a secular abbess of the Monastery of San Pelayo.
In 1029, a political marriage was arranged between her and count García Sánchez of Castile. However, having traveled to León for the marriage, García was assassinated by a group of disgruntled vassals. In 1032, Sancha was married to García’s nephew and successor, Ferdinand I of León and Castile.
At the Battle of Tamarón in 1037 Ferdinand killed Sancha’s brother Bermudo III of León, making Sancha the heir and allowing Ferdinand to have himself crowned King of León, Sancha thereby became Queen. Following Ferdinand’s 1065 death and the division of her husband’s kingdom, she is said to have played the futile role of peacemaker among her sons.
She was a devout Catholic, who, with her husband, commissioned the crucifix that bears their name as a gift for the Basilica of San Isidoro.
Children
Sancha had five children:
Death and burial
She died in the city of León on 27 November 1067. She was interred in the Royal Pantheon of the Basilica of San Isidoro, along with her parents, brother, husband, and her children Elvira, Urraca and García.
The following Latin inscription was carved in the tomb in which were deposited the remains of Queen Sancha:
"H. R. SANCIA REGINA TOTIUS HISPANIAE, MAGNI REGIS FERDINANDI UXOR. FILIA REGIS ADEFONSI, QUI POPULAVIT LEGIONEM POS DESTRUCTIONEM ALMANZOR. OBIIT ERA MCVIII. III N. M."
Which translates to:
"Here lies Sancha, Queen of All Spain, wife of the great king Ferdinand and daughter of king Alfonso, who populated León after the destruction of Almanzor. Died 3 November 1108."