Elvira of Castile, Queen of León
| Elvira García of Castile | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 978 |
| Died | 1017 |
| Spouse | Bermudo II of León |
| Father | García Fernández of Castile |
| Mother | Ava de Ribagorza |
Elvira García (c. 978–1017), was Queen consort of Leon by marriage to King Bermudo II, and co-regent of Leon jointly with Count Menendo González during the minority of her son Alfonso V from 999 until 1008.
Although the year of her birth is not documented, she must have been born shortly before or after 978 since she does not appear with her older sisters, Urraca and Toda, in the foundational charter of the Infantado of Covarrubias in November 24 of that year. Her husband, Bermudo II of León was her first cousin, if Bermudo's debated filiation as the son of Queen Urraca Fernández is correct.
The marriage was celebrated near the end of November 991 and both appear together confirming royal charters as of 992. The marriage, which took place after Bermudo repudiated his first wife, Velasquita Ramírez between 988 and 991, sealed an alliance between the Kingdom of León and the County of Castile which significantly strengthened the Leonese crown.
Bermudo II died in September 999. He was succeeded by his son, Infante Alfonso, a minor, anointed king by October 13 of that year, under the tutorship of his mother, Queen Elvira. The document where Alfonso appears for the first time as King, was confirmed by his mother, followed by count Menendus Gundisaluis comes (Count Menendo González), Santius, dux, Garsea prolis (Sancho, duke, son of García, i.e., Sancho García, Elvira's brother, in addition to several bishops and magnates of the realm. In 1004, Count Sancho García, with the support of his sister Queen Elvira, challenged Count Menendo's tutorship of his nephew, the young King Alfonso. To avoid an armed conflict, both sought the arbitration of the Córdoban hajib al-Muzaffar whose deputy, the qadi of the Mozarabic community of Córdoba, Asbag bin Abd Allah bin Nabil, ruled in favour of Menendo who continued to be the king's tutor until his death in October 1008, after which Alfonso ruled on his own.
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