Pedro Ponce de Cabrera

Ruins of the Monastery of Santa María de Nogales where Pedro Ponce and his wife Aldonza were buried

Pedro Ponce de Cabrera (died 1248/1254),[lower-alpha 1] was a magnate from the Kingdom of León, son of Ponce Vela de Cabrera and his wife Teresa Rodríguez Girón, daughter of Rodrigo Gutiérrez Girón and his first wife María de Guzmán.[2][3][4] From his marriage to Aldonza Alfonso of León, illegitimate daughter of Alfonso IX and his mistress Aldonza Martínez de Silva,[3][2] «...would descend one of the most important Spanish families of the Late Middle Ages, the Ponce de León, so relevant in the conquest of Andalusia where they were to receive over time the marquisate of Cádiz and duchy of Arcos».[3]

Biographical sketch

Probably born near the end of the 12th-century as he appears described in a document in July 1202 as a minor,[5] Pedro Ponce de Cabrera was an important magnate during the reigns of King Alfonso IX, whom he served as his alférez, and of his successor, Ferdinand III of Castile. In February 1221 he was part of the entourage that accompanied Infanta Eleanor of Castile, daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile, to Ágreda for her wedding with King James I of Aragon.[6][5]

He played an active role in the reconquista campaigns of King Fernando III in Andalusia and fought against the moors in Seville, Lora del Río and Marchena. After the conquest of Córdoba in 1236, he was awarded land in the repartimiento while his son, also benefited a few years later, in 1248 from the partition and distribution of land after the conquest of Seville.[7][6]

Pedro Ponce de Cabrera was buried in the chapel of Saint Benito at the Monastery of Santa María de Nogales, founded by his grandparents Vela Gutiérrez and Sancha Ponce de Cabrera.[lower-alpha 2] His widow Aldonza was also buried in the same chapel.[lower-alpha 3]

Marriage and issue

He married Aldonza Alfonso, illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso IX of Leon,[8] sometime before October 1235 with whom he had the following children:[lower-alpha 4]

Notes

  1. ↑ According to historian Diego Ortiz de Zuñiga, Pedro Ponce died in 1248, although he appears confirming a charter in the same year. He had already died by 1254 as evidenced in a donation made by his widow Aldonza to the Monastery of Sahagún in that year.[1]
  2. ↑ In November 1264, the widow Aldonza Alfonso made a donation to the Monastery of Nogales where she indicates the exact place where her husband was buried: "Conuscuda cosa sea a todos cuantos esta carta vieren como yo doña Aldonza Alfonso do por la alma de don Pedro Ponce de Cabrera, mio marido, que jace sepultado en el monasterio de Nogales, en la capilla del señor San Benito e en remisión de mis pecados….” (Let it be known to whomever reads this charter how I, doña Aldonza Alfonso, make this donation for the soul of Pedro Ponce de Cabrera, my husband, who is buried in the chapel of Saint Benito, and for the remission of my sins).[8]
  3. ↑ The following epitaph was carved in her tomb:HIC IACET SERENISSIMA INFANS DOMINA ALDONCIA ALFONSI, ALFONSI NONI LEGIONIS REGIS FILIA, CONIVX DOMINI PETRI PONCII DE CABRERA, FILII COMITIS D. PONCII VELA, NEPOTIS ILLVSTRIVM ET MAGNIFICORVM FVNDATORVM HVIVS CCOENOBII. OBIIT CIRCA ANNOS CHRISTI. M. CC. LX. VI. CVM RECENS SACRATA ESSET NOVA ECCLESIA.[9]
  4. ↑ On 7 October 1235 he executed a deed whereby he specified the arras to be received by his wife.

References

Bibliography

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