CHAP. V. The remaining part of the Reign of Ferdinand, King of Castile and Leon. His Dominions divided among his Children. Of D. Ramiro King of Aragon. Per∣pignan Built.

THE late troubles caused by the Emperors pretensions, gave the Moors an opportunity of casting off the heavy Yoke King Ferdinand had laid on them. At the same time, as it * were by common consent, they all appeared in Arms, but chiefly in the Kingdom of Toledo, and among the Celtiberi, which is part of Aragon. The King was old, and tired with con∣tinual Wars, besides the revenues were exhausted, and the Subjects wasted with heavy Taxes. Queen Sancho, a Woman of a Masculine Spirit, being desirous to advance Christianity, offered towards the charge of the War, all the Money, Plate, and Jewels that belonged to her. This supply so incouraged the King, that raising a powerful Army, he attack'd the Moors about the River Ebro, and made a great slaughter of them. Thence he advanced as far as Catalo∣nia, and Valencia, and returned loaded with Booty. He had the same succeess against the Kingdom of Toledo, and obliged them all to swear, they would punctually pay the Tribute im∣posed on them. This done he returned home in Triumph. Some Authors write, that near Valencia, S. Isidorus, to whom he had always a particular devotion, appeared to him, bid∣ding him to prepare for he should soon die. His sickness, which presently followed, confirm∣ed this Opinion, wherefore having settled all things with the Moors, he returned towards Leon, being carryed in a Litter upon Mens Shoulders, the Soldiers and Officers striving who should carry him. On the first of January 1065. he entred the City of Leon, and as he was used, visited the Bodies of the Saints, prostrating himself on the ground, begging a happy * death, and tho' the disease increased, stayed at Matins, heard Mass and received. The Day * following he returned to the Church of S. Isidorus, and three days after Dyed. This is what the Archbishop D. Roderick, and D. Lucas de Tuy write, yet others say, he dyed at Cabeçon, a Town near Valladolid, neither do Authors agree in the time of his death. King Ferdi∣nand's Life was so holy, that his Feast is Celebrated at Leon as a Saint. He built many Churches, and repaired others. Queen Sancha was not inferior to her Husband in Vertue, she dyed two Years after him, and was buryed by the King, in the Church of S. Isidorus.* Garibay says, King Ferdinand dyed in the Year 1067, and quotes many Authors, who all vary in the time, as they do in the place of his death, so that these things are very un∣certain.

King Ferdinand, by his last Will, divided his Kingdoms among his Three Sons. To D. Sancho* the Eldest, he left Castile, extending from the Rivèr Ebro, till that of Pisuerga, for all that was taken upon the death of D. Garcia was added to Castile. The Kingdom of Leon, fell to D. Alonso, with the Territory of Campos, and that part of Asturias, that reaches to the River Deva, running by Oviedo, as also some Towns in Galicia. D. Garcia the Youngest, had the remaining part of Galicia, and as much of Portugal, as had been recovered from the Moors. All three called themselves Kings. Besides, King Ferdinand left the City Zamora, to his Daughter D. Ʋrraca, and that of Toro to D. Elvira. These Cities were then called Infanta∣do, which is as much as the Principality, signifying thereby, the Estate left for support of the Younger Children. Spain being divided, it was impossible it should enjoy Peace, all Peo∣ple were in suspence, expecting great revolutions upon the King's death. To prevent these misfortunes, many of the Nobility had endeavoured to disswade him from this Resolution, and the matter had been handled in Parliament. Arias Gonzalo, an Ancient, Wise, and Expe∣rienced Man, had stirred most in this affair, but Fatherly Love, suffered not his Prudent advice to take place. D. Sancho, became the Throne, as being a Comely and Graceful Youth, better versed in War than in State affairs, and therefore called the Strong. Pelagius Ovetensis says, he was very Beautiful and Expert in Martial affairs. He was naturally Mild and Affable, if not provoked, or incensed by false Friends. Upon the death of his Father, he openly complained of the wrong had been done him, by dividing the Kingdom. Yet his Mother whilst she lived, restrained him from falling upon his Brothers, especially for that after the King's death, the Crown of Leon devolved upon her, as being her own Dower. D. Sancho Reigned 6 Years, 8 Months, and 25 Days. At the beginning of his Reign, he had War with the Moors, and soon after with the King of Aragon. King Ramiro of Aragon, desiring to enlarge his Territories, laboured successfully, to expel the remainder of the Moors out of that Kingdom. He obliged Almugdadi King of Zaragoça, and Almudafar King of Lerida, to become tributary, and overthrew the King of Huesca. Those about Zaragoça, having been subdued by King Ferdinand, were become tributary to him, but now upon the change of Kings, and relying on the assistance of D. Ramiro, they resolved to fall off. King Sancho having speedily gathered an Army, marched against them. Those of Toledo immediately submitted, but the Aragonians stood out. Hereupon having wasted all the Country, he lay∣ed Siege to Zaragoça, and press'd it so vigorously, it was surrendred to him upon Condition, he should be obliged to support the City against all Enemies, as well Christians as Moors.Page  144 This Capitulation seem'd directly levell'd against the King of Aragon. D. Sancho was offen∣ded that the King of Aragon join'd with the Navarrois, who often made Inroads upon the Dominions of Castile; and besides, that he receiv'd Tribute from those Aragonians that were his Subjects. The Aragonians had then laid Siege to the Castle of Grados, built by the Moors, on the Banks of the River Esera, to curb the Christians. King Sancho, in pursuance of his Capitulation with the Moors, marched to raise that Siege. The Army of Aragon being sur∣priz'd, and attack'd in Front and Rear by the Christians and Insidels, was easily routed; some fled, others were kill'd, amongst which number was the King himself. This was much about the Year 1067. D. Ramiro of Aragon had Reign'd 31 Years, his Body was Bury'd in * the Church of St. John de la Pen̄a, where many of his Predecessors lay. D. Sancho Ramirez, his Son, succeeded in the Throne at the Age of 18. a Prince not unlike to his Father in Virtue. In this Princes time, and in the Year of Grace 1068. Guinard Earl of Russillon, built the Town * of Perpignan, on the Borders of France, not far from the antient City Russillon; the name of *Perpignan was taken from one Bernard Perpignan, who kept two Inns in that place. This King Sancho is said to have abrogated the Laws of the Goths, as the Catalonians had done before, and established the Imperial Civil Law. He was Married to D. Felicia, Daughter to Armen∣gaud Earl of Ʋrgel, by whom he had three Sons, D. Peter, D. Alonso, and D. Ramiro, who were all successively Kings of Aragon. A Bastard Son of his called D. Garcia, was afterwards Bishop of Jaca.

At the same time there Reign'd in Spain three Kings, who were Cousin-Germans, tho' not * equal in power, yet all alike in the manner of their Death. D. Sancho King of Castile was the greatest; he had blemish'd the beginning of his Reign, by killing his Uncle, King Ramiro, and growing fierce with Success, was daily driving at greater mischiefs; his strength being terrible to the others. D. Sancho, King of Navarre, maintain'd his small Kingdom, by ma∣king a League with him of Aragon, to secure both against Castile. He of Castile understand∣ing their design, thought to be beforehand with them, and broke into Navarre, without stop∣ing, till he came in sight of Viana. There the two Kings met him, and they came to a Battle, in which the Castilians were defeated; and their King having lost many Men, return'd into his own Country. The Victors resolving to make use of their Success, broke into the Terri∣tories of Rioja, and Briviesca, where they recovered all that King Ferdinand had taken. Thus were those three Princes destroying one another, without reflecting upon what they might ex∣pect from the Moors. The King of Castile could not at that time take revenge of his Cousins, being ingaged in a new War against his Brothers. He was ambitious, rash, and hot, and pretended a right to all that had been his Fathers, and did not want other grounds to raise a Quarrel upon. His Brothers, tho' weak, could not be perswaded to Unite their Forces a∣gainst their common Enemy. D. Sancho having gathered a powerful Army, resolved to carry on his designs. On the other side, D. Alonso, whom that storm threatned first, having sent Embassadors to procure assistance from his Brother and Cousins, gathered a number of good Soldiers, and marched toward the Enemy. Both Armies met near a Town called Piantaca, where was fought a Bloody Battle, both sides for a long time resolutely maintaining their Ground, but at length, D. Alonso was discomfited, his Army put to the rout, and he forced to fly to the City Leon.