Pedro Ansúrez (floruit 1065–1117;[2] died probably 9 September 1118[3]) was aCastilian nobleman, count ofLiébana,Saldaña andCarrión in the closing decades of the eleventh century and the opening decades of the twelfth. He is considered the founder and first lord ofValladolid.
Pedro was a descendant of theBeni Gómez family of Castilian nobility, the son ofAnsur Díaz, by his first wife, whose name is unknown.[4] His grandfather,Diego Fernández, was a count of Saldaña and Carrión. Pedro married twice, the first time by 17 June 1084[5] to Elo (or Eylo), daughter of Count Alfonso Muñoz and Aldonza González ofTrigueros. She was dead by 17 September 1114, when Pedro made a donation for the good of her soul to the canons of thecathedral of Valladolid, and he appears the next day with his second wife, Elvira Sánchez, whom he may have wed some time before.[5] Pedro had five children: Alfonso, Fernando, María, Mayor, and Urraca. Alfonso died young and his sarcophagus, commissioned by Pedro, can still be seen in the museum of Sahagún. Pedro and Elo's children were raised in the household of a lesser nobleman: that of Citi Álvarez and his wife Froilo, who were duly rewarded for their services with a grant of land.[6]
Pedro was one of the nobles closest toAlfonso VI of León and Castile, although the later claim that he was Alfonso's tutor or guardian during his youth must be dismissed, since the king and Pedro were of roughly the same age.[5] During 24 July–3 September 1067 Pedro served as themajordomo of Alfonso's court.[5] He was raised by the king to the rank of count perhaps as early as 22 November 1068, certainly before 1 November 1070, after which time he always signs charters using the title.[7] In 1072, he accompanied Alfonso into exile inToledo. Later, when Alfonso returned to inherit the kingdoms ofLeón andCastile, Pedro and Eylo were charged with therepopulation of Valladolid. This they did with men from their counties of Saldaña and Carrión. However, the city really began to grow when its lordship was given to Pedro some years later. He became a prolific builder, constructing a large palace for himself and his wife, which has not survived, and a hospital. He built a bridge over thePisuerga and many religious edifices, like the church ofSanta María la Antigua and theColegiata de Santa María, which served as the site of the cathedral (the bishop's seat). The environs of Valladolid formed the outer limits of theKingdom of Castile at his time and Pedro was responsible for the repopulating of the region between Liébana andCuéllar. His massive frontier district included the historically significant city ofToledo. In 1095, his lordship includedMadrid.[8]
Around 1087, at the time of the marriage of Alfonso's eldest daughter and heiress apparent,Urraca, toRaymond of Burgundy, the king appointed Pedro to be her guardian (tutor), and she stayed at his court according to the laterPrimera Crónica General (late 13th century).[5] This probably served to prevent the accumulation of too great influence in the hands of the French.[9] Towards the end of the century, Pedro's power and influence were diminished by the extension of that of theCapetians Raymond andHenry of Burgundy.
When his daughter María was widowed by theCount of Urgel,Ermengol V, Pedro transferred the guardianship of her son,Ermengol VI, toRaymond Berengar III of Barcelona. Between 1103 and 1108, Pedro was in exile in Urgell, having displeased Alfonso VI.[10] He took an active part in the conquest ofBalaguer. Pedro brought with him to Urgell his armour-bearer (armiger), a knight by the name of Íñigo Pérez. Only the greater magnates could afford to employ officers like this. Thearmiger, oralférez, was responsible for leading Pedro'smesnada (retinue) into battle.[11]
In 1114, out of fear ofHell, Pedro Ansúrez donated some land atFuensaldaña to the church ofValladolid.[12]
In 1143, Sancho Ansúrez, Pedro's grandson by his daughter Urraca, introduced thePremonstratensian Order into Spain when he became abbot ofFuentesclaras, moved toRetuerta in 1146. Sancho had studied underSaint Norbert atPrémontré.[13]
