Mécia Lopes de Haro
| Mécia Lopes de Haro | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Queen consort of Portugal | |
| Tenure | 1246–1248 |
| Born | c. 1215 Biscay |
| Died | c. 1270 Palencia |
| Burial | Santa María la Real of Nájera |
| Spouse |
Álvaro Pérez de Castro Sancho II of Portugal |
| House |
House of Haro House of Burgundy |
| Father | Lope Díaz II de Haro |
| Mother | Urraca Alfonso of León |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Mécia Lopes de Haro (c.1215–1270) was a Castilian/Biscayan noblewoman, the wife successively of count Álvaro Pérez de Castro and of King Sancho II of Portugal. The subsequent annulment of her marriage by Pope Innocent IV has led to disagreement over whether she should be counted among the Queens consort of Portugal. She played a central role in the Portuguese political crisis of 1245.
Mécia Lopes was born in Biscay, the daughter of Lope Díaz II de Haro, lord of Biscay, and of Urraca Alfonso of León. Her mother was an illegitimate daughter of Alfonso IX of León. She was thus niece of the reigning king, Ferdinand III of Castile.
Mécia was married on 29 September 1234 to Álvaro Pérez de Castro, a magnate involved in the expansion of the Castilian kingdom into the region of Cordoba, whose first marriage to Aurembiaix, Countess of Urgell had been annulled in 1228, while Mécia's sister Teresa married Nuño, Count of Rousillon, a kinsman of the powerful House of Lara.
These consanguineous marriages were the cause of a dispute between Ferdinand III and Mecia's father Lope Diaz II Haro and husband, the monarch confiscating some of the groom's lands. It was peacefully resolved through the mediation of Queens Berengaria of Castile and Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen, Ferdinand's mother and wife, respectively.
While the marriage proved childless, it did place Mécia in the midst of the struggles on the Cordoban frontier. After taking Cordoba, the king returned to Toledo, leaving Álvaro in charge of the stronghold of Martos. The abandonment of agriculture due to the conflict led to a localized famine, and Álvaro was forced to journey to the royal court to plead for assistance. The king granted him the equivalent of viceregal powers, as well as monetary support. However, in his absence his nephew, Tello, and the troops left behind decided to launch a military incursion into the territory of the enemy, Mécia was left virtually unprotected in Martos. The Moorish ruler of Arjona took advantage of this opportunity to invade the recently captured lands. In response, Mécia sent word to the missing troops, and according to Spanish historian Lafuente she then dress in soldiers' arms and paraded around the battlements. Having anticipated facing women and not armed men, the Moors slowed their approach and took defensive measures, allowing the missing Christian troops under Tello to return. They then launched a directed attack under the command of Diego Perez de Vargas which broke through the center of the enemy lines, dispersing them. On hearing of the danger under which his wife had been placed, Álvaro made to return, but became ill and died of an unnamed disease at Orgaz in 1239, or as some have it, 1240.
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