As portrayed by Genevieve Page in El Cid
| Urraca As portrayed by Genevieve Page in El Cid |
ca 1038 - 1108. Eldest daughter of King Don Ferrando. Her father split his kingdom between his children; Urraca received Zamora. Her machinations would result in war between her brothers and much grief for Christian Spain.
Her younger siblings were Don Sancho, the Infanta Dona Elvira, Don Alfonso, and Don Garcia. She backed Don Alfonso and was said to have arranged Alfonso's transfer from Sancho's prison to a monastery, and thence to exile in Toledo; the assassination of Sancho during the siege of Toledo; and the triumphant return of Alfonso to dominance of Christian Spain. Some historians have suspected a deep, possibly incestuous relationship between her and Alfonso.
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.
To do him more honour the Queen gave him his horse, and the Infanta Dona Urraca fastened on his spurs; and from that day forth he was called Ruydiez.
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.
While King Don Sancho was busied in these wars, King Don Garcia of Galicia took by force from Dona Urraca his sister a great part of the lands which the King their father had given her.
And now also will be accomplished that which my fosterer Arias Gonzalo said, for now that King Don Garcia who is my younger brother, hath dispossessed me and broken the oath which he made unto my father, what will not the elder do, who made the vow by compulsion, and always made protestation against the division! God send that as thou hast disherited me, thou mayest speedily thyself in like manner be disherited, Amen! But when King Don Sancho heard what his brother had done he was well pleased thereat, thinking that he might now bring to pass that which he so greatly desired; and he assembled together his Ricos-omes and his knights, and said unto them, The King my father divided the kingdoms which should have been mine, and therein he did unjustly; now King Don Garcia my brother hath broken the oath and disherited Dona Urraca my sister; I beseech ye therefore counsel me what I shall do, and in what manner to proceed against him, for I will take his kingdom away from him.
And King Don Sancho said, Brother, you well know that King Don Garcia our brother hath broken the oath made unto our father, and disherited our sister Dona Urraca: for this I will take his kingdom away from him, and I beseech you join with me.
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.
Great was the love which the Infanta Dona Urraca bore to her brother King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that he was made prisoner, she feared lest he should be put to death: and she took with her the Count Don Peransures, and went to Burgos.
Full willing was the Cid to serve in any thing the Infanta Dona Urraca, and he went with her before the King.
Then King Don Sancho, at my Cid's request, granted to Dona Urraca what she had asked.
When Dona Urraca knew that her brother King Don Alfonso had fled to Toledo, she sent to him three good men of the kingdom of Leon, that they should be his counsellors, for she loved him well.
And when the Infanta Dona Urraca, and the men of Zamora, saw that he had quiet possession of both his brothers' kingdoms, they feared that he would come against them and disherit his sister also.
And for this reason they took Don Arias Gonzalo to be their chief captain, Dona Urraca's foster-father, that by his means they might protect themselves, if need should be.
And it came to pass as they had feared, for King Don Sancho knew that his sisters greatly loved Don Alfonso, and he thought that by their counsel he had fled from the Monastery, especially by Dona Urraca's, because Don Alfonso guided himself in all things by her counsel, holding her in place of a mother, for she was a lady of great understanding.
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.
Now therefore I beseech you as my friend and true vassal, that you go to Zamora to my sister Dona Urraca, and say unto her again, that I beseech her to give me the town either for a price, or in exchange, and I will give to her Medina de Rio-seco, with the whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando to Valladolid, and Tiedra also, which is a good Castle; and I will swear unto her, with twelve knights of my vassals, never to break this covenant between us; but if she refuseth to do this I will take away the town from her by force.
And my Cid kissed the hand of the King and said unto him, This bidding, Sir, should be for other messenger, for it is a heavy thing for me to deliver it; for I was brought up in Zamora by your father's command, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, with Dona Urraca and with his sons, and it is not fitting that I should be the bearer of such bidding.
And he took with him fifteen of his knights and rode towards Zamora, and when he drew nigh he called unto those who kept guard in the towers not to shoot their arrows at him, for he was Ruydiez of Bivar, who came to Dona Urraca with the bidding of her brother King Don Sancho.
With that there came down a knight who was nephew to Arias Gonzalo, and had the keeping of the gate, and he bade the Cid enter, saying that he would order him to be well lodged while he went to Dona Urraca to know if she would be pleased to see him.
And when the Cid entered the palace Dona Urraca advanced to meet him, and greeted him full well, and they seated themselves both upon the Estrado.
And Dona Urraca said unto him, Cid, you well know that you were brought up with me here in Zamora, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and when my father was at the point of death he charged you that you should always counsel his sons the best you could.
Dona Urraca then said to the Cid, that he might speak his bidding safely.
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.
Then Don Arias Gonzalo stood up and said, Lady Dona Urraca, in thus complaining and making lamentation you do inconsiderately; for in time of trouble it befits us to take thought of what best is to be done, and so must we do.
And when they were all assembled, Dona Urraca arose and said, Friends and vassals, ye have seen how my brother King Don Sancho hath disherited all his brethren, against the oath which he made to the King my father, and now he would disherit me also.
When the Infanta Dona Urraca heard this she was well pleased, and praised them greatly; and she turned to the Cid and said unto him, You were bred up with me in this town of Zamora, where Don Arias Gonzalo fostered you by command of the King my father, and through your help it was that the King my father gave it unto me to be my inheritance.
And when Don Arias Gonzalo saw the misery, and the hunger, and the mortality which were there, he said to the Infanta Dona Urraca, You see, Lady, the great wretchedness which the people of Zamora have suffered, and do every day suffer to maintain their loyalty; now then call together the Council, and thank them truly for what they have done for you, and bid them give up the town within nine days to the King your brother.
And Dona Urraca gave orders that the good men of Zamora should meet together in Council; and she said unto them, Friends, ye well see the resoluteness of King Don Sancho my brother; and already have ye suffered much evil and much wretchedness for doing right and loyally, losing kinsmen and friends in my service.
When Vellido Dolfos heard this, he went to Dona Urraca and said, Lady, I came here to Zamora to do you service with thirty knights, all well accoutred, as you know; and I have served you long time, and never have I had from you guerdon for my service, though I have demanded it: but now if you will grant my demand I will relieve Zamora, and make King Don Sancho break up the siege.
Then said Dona Urraca, Vellido, I shall repeat to thee the saying of the wise man, A man bargains well with the slothful and with him who is in need; and thus you would deal with me.
Then went he to his lodging, and armed himself, and mounted his horse, and rode to the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and cried with a loud voice, We all know the reason, Don Arias Gonzalo, why you will not let Dona Urraca exchange Zamora with her brother; it is because you deal with her as a harlot, like an old traitor.
Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos had got within the postern, he was in such fear both of those who were in the town and of those who were without, that he went and placed himself under the mantle of the Infanta Dona Urraca.
And Dona Urraca made answer, Counsel me then so that he may not die for this which he hath done.
And now neither can I go before King Don Alfonso, your brother, nor remain among the Christians before Dona Urraca your sister, because they hold that whatsoever you have done against them was by my counsel.
The King then commanded that they should raise him up in the bed, and the Counts and Ricos-omes stood round about him, and the Bishops and Archbishops who had come thither to make accord between him and his sister Dona Urraca, and they heard what the Cid said, and knew that he said truly; for whatever good speed King Don Sancho had had in his doings was all by means of my Cid.
And when all was appointed as ye have heard, Don Arias returned to Zamora, and told the Infanta Dona Urraca all that had been done, and she ordered a meeting to be called, at which all the men of the town assembled.
Then he and his sons mounted their horses, and as they rode through the gates of their house, Dona Urraca, with a company of dames met them, and said to Don Arias, weeping, Remember now how my father, King Don Ferrando, left me to your care, and you swore between his hands that you would never forsake me; and lo! now you are forsaking me.
And Don Arias said unto him, Son, go now and do battle with Diego Ordonez, to save Dona Urraca your Lady, and yourself, and the Council of Zamora; and if you do this, in happy hour were you born.
Now what was the end of Vellido the history sayeth not, through the default of the Chroniclers; but it is to be believed, that because the impeachment was not made within three days, Don Arias Gonzalo thrust him out of the town as Dona Urraca had requested, and that he fled into other lands, peradventure among the Moors.
In the meantime the Infanta Dona Urraca wrote letters secretly and sent messengers with them to Toledo to King Don Alfonso, telling him that King Don Sancho his brother was dead, and had left no heir, and that he should come as speedily as he could to receive the kingdoms.
And the Infanta Dona Urraca, who was a right prudent lady and a wise, sent letters throughout the land, that a Cortes should assemble and receive him for their Lord.
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.
And in the beginning of his reign he did in all things according to the counsel of the Infanta Dona Urraca his sister; and he was a good King, and kept his kingdom so well, that rich and poor alike dwelt in peace and security, neither did one man take arms against another, nor dare to do it, if he valued the eyes in his head.