Lc23 Conde Ansúrez

CONDE ANSÚREZ

1037 - 1118

When people come to visit my town, Valladolid, one of the most common meeting points is the largest square in town, which is called Plaza Mayor (or “Main Square”). There, right in the middle, stands the statue of a man on horseback whose name is Pero Ansúrez: that happens to be … me!

You may be wondering why I stand in such a privileged place in Valladolid. The reason is not hard to find out: I am the man who founded the town around 1000 years ago -time does fly, doesn’t it?-

Life in those times was, as you can imagine, a bit different from today. Those were warring times in which Christian people were fighting the Muslims to try and recover their lands, which the Muslims invaders expanding form the East had conquered during the VIII, IX and X centuries in what we call Spain nowadays.

A lot of noblemen -like myself- and soldiers had been working with the kings of Castile and of León in order to free our territories from the invaders. After territories were recovered, it was basic to strengthen the position and a typical way of doing so was by creating settlements (or towns) where the population would live under the protection of a nobleman’s army. These places became a sort of barrier in case there was a counter attack from the Muslims troops. I carried out my activities mainly in the north of our region but we were moving south as fast as the circumstances allowed us to do so.

My job was, among other things, to be in good terms with the Muslims as well as repopulate the lands with people who were loyal to our monarch. I must humbly admit that my knowledge of the Arabic language and my educational background enabled me to negotiate with deputies of the Caliphate. The king, Alfonso VI, must have thought that I had been successful, so he decided to grant me a piece of land that would belong to my family and, at the same time, become a stronghold and a safe place for people to live and prosper. And that is how Valladolid achieved the status of a town. My wife helped without hesitation and her enthusiasm would be acknowledged by the citizens of Valladolid: one of the high schools of Valladolid takes her name: IES CONDESA EYLO ALFONSO.

Now, when I look at my fellow citizens passing by, gathering and talking, celebrating their festivities and their sports accomplishments, I feel really proud and I think that all the efforts were worth it. I am also proud to say that, under my rule, several important constructions started to be built: these include the beginning of the works of the chapel of Saint Mary, the church of Saint Mary “La Antigua”, the hospital of Saint Mary of Esgueva or the Main Bridge over the river Pisuerga. Some of them can still be visited today and they are in great shape!!

Ruth Vega   

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