About Ramón de Bonifaz
Lived 1192 – 1256 (aged 63–64). Ramón de Bonifaz was a sailor, merchant and warrior.
Ramón de Bonifaz (1196-1252 or 1256) was a medieval Spanish naval leader best known for breaking a river barricade, leading to the capture of Seville from the Almohad Caliphate.
Bonifaz made his fortune as a merchant in Burgos, a city on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Bonifaz's force of thirteen large ships combined with smaller vessels sunk several ships and drove the others away. Without a source of provisions, Seville soon surrendered.
Bonifaz received many honors for his role in the reconquest of Seville. He was made a royal official in 1252, although some scholars consider the evidence for Bonifaz having this title weak. The coat of arms of Cantabria shows Bonifaz breaking the chains across the Guadalquivir.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Ramón de Bonifaz?
Spanish admiral
When was Ramón de Bonifaz born?
Ramón de Bonifaz was born in 1192.
When did Ramón de Bonifaz die?
Ramón de Bonifaz died in 1256 in Burgos.
What was Ramón de Bonifaz's occupation?
Ramón de Bonifaz was a sailor, merchant and warrior.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ramón de Bonifaz. https://biography.guide/ramon-de-bonifaz/
MLA: "Ramón de Bonifaz." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ramon-de-bonifaz/.
Chicago: "Ramón de Bonifaz." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ramon-de-bonifaz/.
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