García II of Galicia

Political situation in the Northern Iberian Peninsula around 1065:

  Garcia II´s domains (Galicia)

  Badajoz, owing tribute to Garcia

  Seville, owing tribute to Garcia

  Alfonso VI´s domains (León)

  Toledo, owing tribute to Alfonso

  Sancho II´s domains (Castile)

  Zaragoza, owing tribute to Sancho

García II (c. 1042 – 22 March 1090), King of Galicia and Portugal, was the youngest of the three sons and heirs of Ferdinand I, King of Castile and León, and Sancha of León, whose Leonese inheritance included the lands García would be given.

In the 1065 division of his father's estates, García was given the Galicia, including the County of Portugal, as well as the right to parias from the Taifas of Badajoz and Seville, his brother Sancho received the Kingdom of Castile, and a third brother, Alfonso was given the Kingdom of León. Calling himself 'King of Galicia and Portugal', García thus became the first to use the title King of Portugal. His power in the south of his polity was somewhat limited until 1071, when he defeated rebel Portuguese Count Nuno Mendes in the Battle of Pedroso. However, shortly after this victory, his brothers united against him and forced García to flee to Seville, partitioned his kingdom between them.

The next year, in 1072, Sancho defeated Alfonso and reunited the entire kingdom of their father, but was assassinated within months. Alfonso took control of Sancho's kingdom, and García returned from his exile. It is unclear if he hoped to reestablish himself in his kingdom or had been misled by promises of safety from Alfonso, but García was immediately imprisoned in a monastery where he remained until his death sometime around 1090.

Ancestry

Family of García II of Galicia

16. Sancho II of Navarre               8. García II of Navarre                       17. Urraca Fernández of Castile               4. Sancho III of Navarre                             18. Fernando Bermúdez de Cea               9. Jimena Fernández                       19. Elvira Díaz of Saldaña               2. Ferdinand I of León and Castile                                   20. García Fernández, Count of Castile               10. Sancho García, Count of Castile                       21. Ava of Ribagorza               5. Muniadona Mayor                             22. Gómez Díaz, Count of Saldaña               11. Urraca Gómez                       23. Muniadona Fernández of Castile               1. García II of Galicia                                         24. Ordoño III of León               12. Bermudo II of León                       6. Alfonso V of León                             26. García Fernández, Count of Castile               13. Elvira García                       27. Ava of Ribagorza               3. Sancha of León                                   28. Gonzalo Menéndez, Count of Portugal               14. Menendo González, Count of Portugal                       29. Ilduara (Ildonza) Peláez               7. Elvira Mendes                             15. Tutadona

Notes

Preceded by Ferdinand I

King of Galicia and Portugal 1065–1071

Succeeded by Alfonso VI and Sancho II