Alonso Pérez de Guzmán

Alonso Pérez de Guzmán (1256–1309), known as Guzmán el Bueno ("Guzmán the Good"), was a Spanish nobleman and hero of Spain during the medieval period. Guzmán is the progenitor of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, the oldest extant dukedom in the Kingdom of Castile.

Biography Alonso Pérez de Guzmán was born on 24 January 1256, probably in León, bastard son of Pedro Núñez de Guzmán, adelantado mayor (governor) of Castile, himself son of Guillén Pérez de Guzmán.

Origins According to Spanish tradition, Guzmán was born in Morocco. Historians have since speculated that he was a Muslim. In a permit to export wheat signed in 1288, Guzmán was given permission to export the crop to where "he is from", very likely in Morocco. A document from 1297 signed by the Spanish king refers to Guzmán as "a vassal", i.e. a non-Spaniard. The document was owned by the late Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia. A direct descendant of Guzmán, she said that she believed his history might have been "cleaned up" in the sixteenth century to alter his origins. She thought that would have made the hero more palatable to Spain's Christian society. He was rewarded for his defense of the castle with large grants of Crown land. In 1309 Guzmán helped Ferdinand IV of Castile capture Gibraltar from the Moors, who had held it for nearly 600 years since 711.

Dukedom of Medina Sidonia The ducal title of Medina Sidonia was conferred by John II in 1445 on one of his descendants, Juan Alonso de Guzmán, count of Niebla.

Marriage and children He married María Alonso Coronel (1267-1330), and had following children :

Legacy Guzmán and his life have been explored by numerous Spanish playwrights, including Antonio Gil y Zárate in his Guzmán el bueno. Drama en Cuatro Actos, 1840s. Luis Velez de Guevara (1570–1644), Más pesa el Rey que la Sangre Nicolás Fernández de Moratín (1737–1780), play dated 1777 The Guzmán el Bueno metro stop in Madrid is named in his honor, and a street where the Madrid Civil Guard barracks is. Alonso appears in the scene of the dagger, in the play Anthology theatrical by the author Juan José Videgain, recognized as his descendant.