Vela Ladrón

Vela Ladrón or Latrónez (died 1174) was a Spanish nobleman who ruled the Basque counties of Álava, Biscay (Vizcaya) and Guipúzcoa.

[a] According to a list of lay brothers compiled in the twelfth century, he pledged to donate to the order one morabetino annually on Michaelmas and to supply it with one horse with a knight's equipment upon his death.

Although Sancho soon renewed the homage his father had owed Alfonso VII, on 27 January 1151 the emperor of León and Castile concluded a secret treaty at Tudején with Prince Ramon Berenguer IV, regent of the kingdom of Aragon, by which they agreed to divide the Navarre between them.

The implementation of this treaty hinged on Sancho VI's ability to command the loyalty of the Navarrese: Alfonso had no intention of destabilising Navarre if it proved a loyal vassal of León–Castile.

The young king Sancho spent the six weeks following his act of homage (and the secret treaty) with the emperor's court in northeastern Castile.

[13] Although the comital title was granted by the crown and is strongly associated with those who attended court regularly, it was, as in the case of Vela, sometimes treated as a semi-hereditary dignity and could be attached to any tenancy held by a count.

[16] Although Vela was unswerving in his loyalty to Castile during the reign of Alfonso VII, he did hold tenancies in Navarre, perhaps ones once held by his father.

[h][18] Vela continued to serve Alfonso's successor as king of Castile, his eldest son, Sancho III.

The very last document to emanate from the court of Sancho III, dated 30 July 1158, was witnessed by "Count Vela of Álava".

[23] During these years there was intermittent civil war in Castile between the Laras and the Castros over the regency of the kingdom and the guardianship of the king, responsibilities which prior to 1161 had been divided between them.

It is sometimes supposed that Sancho conquered the Basque lands, but there is no record of military activity there during this time and it is more likely that Vela simply took advantage of the Navarrese invasion to his south to further his own independent position.

[25] He must have taken part in or at the very least condoned the Navarrese attacks around Miranda de Ebro and west of the river Bayas.

[23] During this period of civil war and invasion from 1160 to 1166, Vela's hold on Álava remained strong and he continues to be cited as count there in Navarrese documents.