Rodrigo is usually credited as one of the leaders of the party that supported Sancho I and his son Ramiro III in the wars over the Leonese succession that began in the late 950s and continued into the 980s.

[1] The chief rival clan was led by Gonzalo, and supported first Ordoño III and later his son Vermudo II.

[3] Guntroda had appropriated the monastery of Santa Comba, which belonged to a monk name Odoino, who appealed to Mummadomna for support.

Gonzalo fell out with Ramiro III in 968 after the latter refused action against the Vikings then ravaging Galicia and Portugal.

The resulting bad blood between the families is alluded to as late as 1 October 982 in a document that reads in part: