Sancha of León

For the heiress of León who renounced her rights in 1230, see Sancha of León (1191-1243).

Sancha of León (1013 – 27 November 1067) was a daughter of Alfonso V of León by Elvira Mendes and Queen consort of León and Castile. 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, Count of Castile in 1032. At the Battle of Tamarón in 1037 Ferdinand defeated and killed Sancha's brother Bermudo III of León, making Sancha the heir and allowing Ferdinand to have himself crowned King of León and Castile, Sancha thereby became Queen consort. 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

She had five children:

Urraca of Zamora. Ruler of the city Zamora.
Sancho II of Castile (1040s – 1067). First son.
Elvira of Toro. Ruler of the city Toro.
Alfonso VI of León (1040s – 1 July 1109). Second son.
García II of Galicia and Portugal (1040s – 1090s). Third son.

Preceded by Urraca Gómez	Countess consort of Castile 1032–1037	Succeeded by Title superseded
Preceded by New Creation	Queen consort of Castile 1037–1065	Succeeded by Alberta
Preceded by Jimena of Castile	Queen consort of León 1037–1065	Succeeded by Agnes of Aquitaine
Preceded by Mayor of Castile	Empress of Spain 1156–1165	Succeeded by Agnes of Aquitaine

Persondata
Name	Leon, Sancha Of
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1013
Place of birth
Date of death	27 November 1067
Place of death