Daughter of King Don Ferrando. Her siblings were Dona Urraca, Don Sancho, Dona Elvira, Don Alfonso, and Don Garcia.
Before he reigned he had by Dona Sancha his wife the Infanta Dona Urraca, his eldest daughter, who was a right excellent lady, of good customs and bounty and beauty; and after her he had the Infante Don Sancho, his eldest son and heir; and then the Infanta Dona Elvira, whom after the death of the King her father, her brother King Don Alfonso married to the Count Don Garcia de Cabra.
Then Dona Elvira his kinswoman, the wife of the Count Don Garcia, came and fell on her knees before him; but Rodrigo took her by the hand and raised her up, and would not hear her till she was arisen.
Howbeit it was his pleasure to divide them: he had three sons, Don Sancho who was the eldest, and Don Alfonso who was the second born, and Don Garcia who was the youngest; and two daughters, Dona Urraca and Dona Elvira.
And to Dona Urraca he gave the city of Zamora with all its dependencies, and with half the Infantazgo; and the other half, with the city of Toro and its dependencies, to Dona Elvira.
The cause of all this was a favourite, by name Verna, to whom the King gave so much authority, that he displeased all the chief persons in his dominions, and hearkened unto him in all things; and by his advice it was that he had despoiled his sister Dona Urraca of her lands, and his sister Dona Elvira also, and had done other things, whereby Portugal and Galicia were now in danger to be lost.
And he went forth with his army, and took from the Infanta Dona Elvira the half of the Infantazgo which she possessed, and also from Dona Urraca the other half.
And he went against Toro, the city of Dona Elvira, and took it; and then he went to Zamora to Dona Urraca, bidding her yield him up the city, and saying that he would give her lands as much as she required in the plain country.
When Dona Urraca heard this she was sorely grieved, and in her sorrow she lamented aloud, saying, Wretch that I am, many are the evil messages which I have heard since my father's death! He hath disherited my brother King Don Garcia of his kingdom, and taken him, and now holds him in irons as if he were a thief or a Moor: and he hath taken his lands from my brother King Don Alfonso, and forced him to go among the Moors, and live there exiled, as if he had been a traitor; and would let none go with him except Don Peransures and his brethren, whom I sent: and he hath taken her lands from my sister Dona Elvira against her will, and now would he take Zamora from me also! Now then let the earth open and swallow me, that I may not see so many troubles! And with that, in her strong anger against her brother King Don Sancho, she said, I am a woman, and know that I cannot strive with him in battle; but I will have him slain either secretly or openly.
And when the day appointed for the oath was come, the King went to hear mass in the church of Gadea, and his sisters the Infantas Dona Urraca and Dona Elvira with him, and all his knights.