Sancho de Tejada

On my great-grandmother’s side, I am directly related to Sancho de Tejada who, along with his 13 children and 12 knights from Galicia were said to facilitate a crucial win in a battle that King Ramiro I (the 11th King of Asturias and Galicia - 791-850) was waging against the Muslims in the province of Navarra, Spain.

For their efforts in supporting him, King Ramiro rewarded Sancho and his children warriors, along with all their descendants in perpetuity, the status of “Hijosdalgo”, or nobility. In addition, King Ramiro I granted the ownership of the existing home on the land, formally known as the Cadina, but now called Tejada, as well as granting ownership of two castles (called Viguera and Clavijo), along with roughly 1,230,000 acres and the use of a shield along with other rights.

The Casa Solar appears as it did centuries ago, made of stone and clay tiles. The structure was said to be part of the famous, but still debatable “Battle of Clavijo”.

The “Solar” not only represents a shield or coat of arms, but is also a record of genealogy with more than four centuries of census documentation, who’s privileges are confirmed by all the Heads of State of the country of Spain from King Peter I (c.1068-1104) to King Juan Carlos I (1938 - ).

So the good news is that I am part owner of the land, and two castles in Spain, the bad news is that, given there are millions of decedents of Sancho and his 13 sons, my portion of land wouldn’t fill a cookie jar and my part of the castles, even smaller!

But it’s good to know that I am part of such a rich tradition.

A Genealogist’s Nightmare

Winter “castañas”