Martín Flaínez
Encyclopedia
Martín Flaínez (died May 1108) was "one of the most powerful and distinguished members" of the Leonese
aristocracy during the reign of Alfonso VI
(1065–1109), with which the length of his public life almost exactly coincided. From 1090 until his death he was a regular figure at the royal court, and even used the title gracia Dei comite, "count by the grace of God
".
Martín was a son of Flaín Fernández and his second wife, Toda. The first documentary record of Martín dates to 28 May 1065, when he participated in a donation to León Cathedral
. His brother Fernando, the royal alférez
, fell out with the king in 1077 and was banned from court. It fell to Martín to restore the family's fortunes.
Martín married Sancha Fernández sometime before 13 November 1084, when the couple first appear beside each other in a document. Sancha was a daughter of Tegridia Gutiérrez, daughter of Gutier Alfonso. She gave him four sons, who all died in battle: Gómez, Osorio
, Pedro and Rodrigo
. The couple also had a daughter named for her maternal grandmother, Tegridia. There survives an interesting description of a manor house purchased by Martín and his wife sometime before 1085. It included a kitchen, pond, strawloft and threshing floor. In May 1085 they granted it to Arias Núñez for his loyal service.
On two isolated occasions before 1090—in October 1075 and December 1080, specifically—Martín is given the title comes (count
), the highest in the kingdom, but he does not consistently use this title until after the summer of 1090. It is only then that his political career begins. At that time he was tenant of Aguilar
, which he continued to govern on behalf of the crown until his death, although he is last cited there in 16 January 1108. Between 1 February 1091 and 7 February 1092 he received the tenancy of the castle of Simancas
, which had previously been held by Pedro Alfonso
. At the same time (February 1092) he appears as tenant in Cabezón
. Between April 1101 to June 1107 he was tenant in San Julián
, and there are brief notices of his tenancies elsewhere: Ceón in June 1104, Peñamián in May 1105 and León in December 1106.
Martín's known pious endowments are limited. He made a grant to the Benedictine monasteries of Sahagún
in March 1091, and also to the regular clergy
of Valladolid
in February 1092. He was not always on good terms with Sahagún: in 1091 he had to defend the settlers of Villavicencio
in their dispute with Sahagún. At an unknown date when his son Rodrigo was young, he made a donation of a meadow, some money and candles to the Benedictine house of Santa Eugenia de Cordovilla, whose monks, he claimed, had exorcised a demon
from his son. On 22 September 1102 Martín granted some land at Torredillos to the townsmen that they might build a church.
According to Lucas de Tuy
, writing his Chronicon mundi over a hundred years later, Martín was a victim of the Battle of Uclés in May 1108. A charter of the monastery of Sahagún dated 17 November 1108 cites Martín as still living, although it may contain an error in the dating clause. There is no other reference to Martín later than 31 March 1108. There is no reference to his eldest son, Gómez, after May 1107, and it is probable that he died in the same engagement as his father. He was buried in Sahagún.
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
aristocracy during the reign of Alfonso VI
Alfonso VI of Castile
Alfonso VI , nicknamed the Brave or the Valiant, was King of León from 1065, King of Castile and de facto King of Galicia from 1072, and self-proclaimed "Emperor of all Spain". After the conquest of Toledo he was also self-proclaimed victoriosissimo rege in Toleto, et in Hispania et Gallecia...
(1065–1109), with which the length of his public life almost exactly coincided. From 1090 until his death he was a regular figure at the royal court, and even used the title gracia Dei comite, "count by the grace of God
By the Grace of God
By the Grace of God is an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch taken to be ruling by divine right, not a title in its own right....
".
Martín was a son of Flaín Fernández and his second wife, Toda. The first documentary record of Martín dates to 28 May 1065, when he participated in a donation to León Cathedral
León Cathedral
Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-western Spain. It was built on the site of previous Roman baths of the 2nd century which, 800 years later, king Ordoño II converted into a palace.The León Cathedral,...
. His brother Fernando, the royal alférez
Alférez
Alférez is a junior officer rank also used in Spain, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The variant Alferes is used in Portugal and was formerly also used in Brazil. A naval variant, Frigate Alférez, is used in Spain, Dominican Republic and Peru. "Alférez" is often translated as ensign...
, fell out with the king in 1077 and was banned from court. It fell to Martín to restore the family's fortunes.
Martín married Sancha Fernández sometime before 13 November 1084, when the couple first appear beside each other in a document. Sancha was a daughter of Tegridia Gutiérrez, daughter of Gutier Alfonso. She gave him four sons, who all died in battle: Gómez, Osorio
Osorio Martínez
Osorio Martínez was a magnate from the Province of León in the Empire of Alfonso VII. He served the emperor militarily throughout his long career, which peaked in 1138–41. Besides the documentary sources, which are somewhat meagre at times after his fall from royal favour, he is mentioned in two...
, Pedro and Rodrigo
Rodrigo Martínez
Rodrigo Martínez was a Leonese nobleman, landowner, courtier, military leader, governor, and diplomat, "the most powerful lay figure in the region of the western Tierra de Campos," who "emerges as far and away the most regular visitor to the court of Alfonso VII between 1127 and 1138." He was a...
. The couple also had a daughter named for her maternal grandmother, Tegridia. There survives an interesting description of a manor house purchased by Martín and his wife sometime before 1085. It included a kitchen, pond, strawloft and threshing floor. In May 1085 they granted it to Arias Núñez for his loyal service.
On two isolated occasions before 1090—in October 1075 and December 1080, specifically—Martín is given the title comes (count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
), the highest in the kingdom, but he does not consistently use this title until after the summer of 1090. It is only then that his political career begins. At that time he was tenant of Aguilar
Aguilar de Campoo
Aguilar de Campoo is a town in the province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is close to the River Pisuerga.-History:In 1255 Alfonso X the Wise declared it Villa Realenga...
, which he continued to govern on behalf of the crown until his death, although he is last cited there in 16 January 1108. Between 1 February 1091 and 7 February 1092 he received the tenancy of the castle of Simancas
Simancas
Simancas is a town and municipality of central Spain, located in the province of Valladolid, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, which had previously been held by Pedro Alfonso
Pedro Alfonso
Pedro Alfonso or Alfónsez was an Asturian magnate, dominating the region from 1139 until his death. He had vast landholdings in the Asturias, the province of León, and Toledo, including in the cities of León and Toledo, the most important cities of the realm. His commercial dealings, too, were...
. At the same time (February 1092) he appears as tenant in Cabezón
Cabezon
Cabezón is the Spanish word for "stubborn" or "big-headed". Cabezon or cabezón may refer to:In Chile, cabezon means intelligent.-Fish species:* Cabezone , a species of fish in the Cottidae family...
. Between April 1101 to June 1107 he was tenant in San Julián
San Julián
San Julián is a municipality in the Sonsonate department of El Salvador.-See also:*Puerto San Julián...
, and there are brief notices of his tenancies elsewhere: Ceón in June 1104, Peñamián in May 1105 and León in December 1106.
Martín's known pious endowments are limited. He made a grant to the Benedictine monasteries of Sahagún
Sahagún
Sahagún can refer to:*Sahagún, Spain, a town and monastery in Léon, Spain. Cradle of the Mudéjar architecture*Sahagún, Córdoba, the second town in population in Córdoba Department, Colombia, also called "The Cultural City of Cordoba"People...
in March 1091, and also to the regular clergy
Regular clergy
Regular clergy, or just regulars, is applied in the Roman Catholic Church to clerics who follow a "rule" in their life. Strictly, it means those members of religious orders who have made solemn profession. It contrasts with secular clergy.-Terminology and history:The observance of the Rule of St...
of Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
in February 1092. He was not always on good terms with Sahagún: in 1091 he had to defend the settlers of Villavicencio
Villavicencio
Villavicencio is a city and municipality in Colombia, capital of the Department of Meta, with 361,058 inhabitants. The city is located at 4°08S, 73°40W, 75 km southeast of the Colombian capital city of Bogotá by the Guatiquía river...
in their dispute with Sahagún. At an unknown date when his son Rodrigo was young, he made a donation of a meadow, some money and candles to the Benedictine house of Santa Eugenia de Cordovilla, whose monks, he claimed, had exorcised a demon
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
from his son. On 22 September 1102 Martín granted some land at Torredillos to the townsmen that they might build a church.
According to Lucas de Tuy
Lucas de Tuy
Lucas de Tuy was a Leonese cleric and intellectual, remembered best as a historian. He was Bishop of Tuy from 1239 until his death....
, writing his Chronicon mundi over a hundred years later, Martín was a victim of the Battle of Uclés in May 1108. A charter of the monastery of Sahagún dated 17 November 1108 cites Martín as still living, although it may contain an error in the dating clause. There is no other reference to Martín later than 31 March 1108. There is no reference to his eldest son, Gómez, after May 1107, and it is probable that he died in the same engagement as his father. He was buried in Sahagún.