Urraca was involved in a rebellion against her half-brother, King Ferdinand II of León and with her second husband, Álvaro Rodríguez de Castro attempted to secure the independence of Asturias.

[18] Álvaro was seigneur of Chantada and governor of Asturias between 1150 and 1171, of Sarria, and of the towers of León, as well as the alférez of King Fernando II and later his mayordomo mayor.

[16] Urraca and Álvaro were involved in an uprising to secure the independence of Asturias as attested in a charter from the Monastery of Santa María de Otero de las Dueñas which mentions "...when Queen doña Urraca and don Álvaro Roderici wanted King Fernando II to lose Asturias".

[b][21] In the early months of 1164, King Fernando II thanked the Bishop of Oviedo for the aid provided to quash the uprising in Asturias.

It seems perfectly plausible that the high rank and prestigious "curriculum" of Urraca "la Asturiana" fed the secessionist cravings of Asturias which, during the 12th century was recovering its regional awareness spurred by the literary and administrative work of Bishop Gutierre of Oviedo.

[citation needed] Urraca collaborated with her mother in founding the monastery of Santa María de la Vega in the outskirts of Oviedo where Gontrodo was eventually buried in a tomb the marker of which is currently preserved in the Archaeological Museum of the Asturias.