Rodrigo Pérez de Traba
Rodrigo Pérez de Traba (floruit 1111–1158/65), called el Velloso ("the Hairy"), was a Galician magnate who rose to prominence after the coronation of Alfonso VII as co-ruler of León in 1111.
In the words of the Historia "the most esteemed count Pedro was royal steward and his son Rodrigo, as armiger, carried the sword of the king, the shield, and the lance.
In April 1126, after Urraca's death, Rodrigo travelled with his father and the other magnates of Galicia to Zamora to swear oaths to Alfonso as sole king.
[9] Rodrigo was politically closely aligned with the County of Portugal, which his half-brothers Vermudo and Fernando Pérez were de facto ruling through the latter's adulterous liaison with Countess Theresa.
In September 1141 Afonso Henriques and Alfonso VII finally came to terms, and both Rodrigo and Gómez "paid a severe political price as a result.
Later, according to the Chronica, in a not unusual display of mercy, Alfonso invited the disgraced count to court and regaled him with gifts of gold and silver as he customarily did his regular courtiers, thus reconciling him to himself.
[15] In 1147 Rodrigo joined the royal army that marched to re-conquer Almería from the Muslims, but like many of the Galicians initially present he left in midsummer after taking part in the Siege of Oreja (at least until 25 July).
[5] Fronilde was a generous benefactress of the Cistercians in Spain, making donations to their foundations at Armenteira,[17] Ferreira de Pallares,[18] Meira, and Melón.
On 20 December 1127 Alfonso VII donated some churches to the Benedictine monastery of Cines in Galicia "for the love of our most faithful count Don Rodrigo Pérez.
[1] According to the Historia compostellana, in 1130 some of Rodrigo's knights unlawfully imprisoned Arias Muñiz, the archdeacon of Trastámara in the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela.
[23] The purpose of the public humiliation imposed by Diego was, according to the Historia, to instill fear in Rodrigo's fellow magnates, so that they would not dare commit such acts again.
[5] The Historia also describes how Alfonso VII granted the castle of San Jorge and its dependencies to the archdiocese, but allowed Rodrigo to retain its lordship as a vassal of the archbishop.
[5] Señor arzobispo, ya he previsto, deliberado y encontrado lo que puedo daros a vos y a vuestra iglesia para celebrar cada año mi aniversario.
The count Rodrigo, who at present holds from me the said castle, will give you homage and promise fidelity for it, in order that at my death he may leave it to you absolutely free and without any charge.
