الدور السياسي لأوراكا الأولى في الممالك الإيبيرية في القرن الثاني عشر الميلادي/ السادس الهجري

Abstract

This study examines the figure of Queen Urraca I (1109–1126) within the turbulent historical and political context of the Iberian Peninsula in the twelfth century, a period marked by the interweaving of royal authority, the feudal order, ecclesiastical dominance, and military conflicts with Muslim powers. The main research question seeks to understand the causes behind the failure of the project to unify the kingdoms of León and Castile with Aragon, despite the seemingly strategic alliance represented by the marriage between Urraca and Alfonso I, King of Aragon and Navarre. The study adopts a historical methodology, based on Latin, Spanish, and Arabic sources, as well as modern scholarship, with a focus on the political and social discourse surrounding Urraca. The findings indicate that the failure of the unification project was not merely the result of personal or marital disputes, but stemmed from structural factors: the patriarchal nature of the feudal system that restricted female authority, the expansionist ambitions of Alfonso I that clashed with Castilian noble interests, the papal opposition that deprived the marriage of religious legitimacy, and the resistance of the aristocracy who feared losing their privileges. Despite these challenges, Urraca managed to maintain her throne and secure her heirs’ rights, making her a unique case in the history of female rule in medieval Europe. Her reign thus provides a valuable framework for understanding the tensions between political and ecclesiastical institutions and reaffirms the influential role of women in shaping the Iberian political landscape.