Anna of Kiev: The Russian Consort of Henri I of France (1024/1036-1075)

                      

Today's topic on this blog is about a very interesting medieval queen, who, like others previously discussed here, is not often remembered for the achievements left in the country she reigned as consort. And one of these achievements include being the first female to be regent for her son, the child king Philippe I. So who was this woman? And what's there to tell about her? It's what we intend to find out next.

Anna Yaroslavna, sometimes known as Agnes, was the third oldest daughter of the Grand-Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kievan-Rus and his wife, Grand-Princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. The circumnstances of her birth are obscure, so there are only estimatives that her birth year was between 1024 and 1036. And, in concern about her childhood and youth, before the betrothal to the king of France, there is almost nothing about these events, except that her father and mother gave the princess a good education, as we can see below:

"(...) and, by the age of 18, under the supervision of her mother, she had mastered Latin, Ancient Greek and the basics of medicine."

The region where the Grand-Prince ruled, Kiev, includes, today, part of Russia and  all of Ukraine, and so had no links to France, no trades or political treaties. Many historians, thus, questioned what could have been the reason that made the French king look for a wife in such a farther region? 

Henry I was the grandson of Hugh Capet, whose wife Adhélaide of Aquitaine was already a topic discussed on this blog. He had some troubles throughout his reign, especially with his own family. By the time he managed to hold the crown for himself, Henry thought wise to marry the niece of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III, named Matilda. Not much about her is known, except she died at a young age and that she gave the king a daughter, who sadly did not survive. Below, we can have a better perceivement of the reasons that led King Henry to send his embassy to such a distant country:

"Several reasons are quoted as possible motivations for a French king's wish to marry a princess from such a far away, alien country. The Roman Pope had issued an edict that banned marriage between close relatives (in fact, all the cousins seven times removed were included into the ban), both the inbreeding adverse effects which had become visible, and religious grounds being the possible grounds for the edict. A more plausible explanation involves the rising power and might of the Kyivan state alliance with which could come in a handy one way or the other. Henry I, feeling rather insecure on his throne, could have wanted to establish links with a dynasty that claimed several princesses of the royal blood, Byzantine and Sweidsh--it would add glamour to his own Capetian dynasty, Byzantium still ranking very high in the early medieval Europe"

This is also attested in the next paragraph, whose author reminds us of the decline by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III, when the Grand-Prince of Kiev offered the hand of his daughter Anna for a match, opened the eyes for a desire of the french King to settle properly the dynasty.

"Although the German emperor declined the offer, this failed embassy may have drawn the attention of Henry I eastwards to Kievan Rus' to seek one of Yaroslav's daughters for himself in 1049. The Capetian dynasty was still at a comparatively young stage and a Rusian princess who had been offered to a German emperor may have been seen as a way of legitimizing Capetian dynastic status."

That being said, "(...) the French embassage, led by the Bishop of the city of Meaux Gautier and minister of the French Court Goscelin de Chalignac, arrived in Kiev with a mission to arrange a marriage between the king of France, Henry I, and Anna. Rumours of Anna's exquisite beauty, literacy and wisdom reached many corners of Europe."

It is also said that "the king was more than 40 at the time of the couple's first meeting: he suffered from obesity and became spiteful, even with his concubines. However when he saw Anna, he softened and even smiled, leaning in to kiss her. After his passionate introduction, Anna is quoted to have pulled back, blushed and said: "I suppose it's you who is king..."".

Also, "Anna arrived in France in the late autumn of 1048. Her wedding and coronation took place in May 1049, the Holy Trinity Day, in the Cathedral of the city of Rheims, long the site of the coronation of French kings. During the coronation ceremony, which was conducted by the Archbishop of Rheims Guy de Chatilion, Anna took her oath placing her hand on  the Gospel that she had brought from Kyiv. This Gospel since then was used in the coronation ceremonies of the French kings all down the line until (...) Charles X. (...)"

It seems, however, there was a disappointment felt by the new queen to her new homeland. It is reported that "in 1050 she writes to her father: "What a barbarous country you sent me to--the dwellings are somber, the churches horrendous and the morals--terrible", aside of her complaints that the French did not bathe, nor could read and write. 

Regardless of the poor impressions left in Anna, she was quick to learn the language and soon had a role in the government herself, despite the limitations brought by the functions a consort was expected to make. The differences with her husband, however, became quite evident as seen next:

"Evidence of the differences between them is obvious on their marriage certificate: Anne signed her own name with her own hand, while her iliterate husband could only mark an "X"."

"The signatures read "by the approval of my spouse Anna" or "in the presence of Queen Anna"."

Tensions came to rise, nevertheless, when Anna did not give the king the heir needed. She then spent most of her time in prayers, and vowed to make a monastery if her prayers were attended. Which they eventually did. Together with the king, she had four children: Philip, this named after a macedonian ancestor king of the same name and whose Anna's family claim to descend from, Emma, Robert and Hugh. 

Of these children, however, it is known that only two of them made to adulthood: Philip, who would inherite his father's crown and become Philip the First, and Hugh, this becoming a leader at the crusades and also the Count of Vermandois. As for Emma and Robert, they probably died in infancy.

Even after the death of her husband, Anna continued to have a part in politics, acting as regent for her son, until he reached majority at age 14, with the count of Flanders, Baldwin V, as co-regent. It seems that, even after she was married in clandestine to Raoul III Peronne, Count of Crepy and Valois, she managed to keep the role, though for a while she was away from court until the death of Raoul, as it states according to the next paragraph:

"Anna's regency officially ended in 1067 when Philip was fourteen and thought fit to rule on his own. That means that Anna remained regent after she had consorted with Raul. In 1071 Philip married Berthe of France and the available evidence suggests that Anna was forced to leave the court altogether and retire to her estates of Vernin of Chateaunef-sur-Loire. There is some evidence that after the death of Raul she returned to the court and was even engaged to a certain extent in the affairs of the state --the document that confirms royal privileges to the Nunnery of the Virgin bears her signature and she is referred to in it as 'Mother of King Philip'".

This, however, was a match that created some problems to Anna. She apparently fell in love with him, but Raoul was already a married man. Yet, on the basis of adultery of the part of his wife, he soon repudiated her and, whilst Anna was having a stroll in the gardens, kidnapped her so they could marry. The pope, to whom the repudiated wife of the count pledged to, commanded him to return to his family, disapproving the marriage and not recognizing it. But he did not do so, which resulted them both being excommunicated. The relationship, though, did not seem to make mother and son estranged, with Philip granting forgiveness for it so we may observe, from the excerpt above, that she continued with her influence at court.

Finally, despite the evidence that claims the year of her death being 1075, "it is not known when Anna died or where she is buried. According to some historians she returned to Kiev to die; others claim that she died in France and was buried in the Vilier Abbey not far from Forte-Aleps." The last direct descendant of Queen Anna was Henri III of France, when he was succeeded to the first of the House of Bourbon, Henri IV.

Bibliography:

http://famous.russianwomen.club/famous/Anna-Yaroslavna-Queen-of-France.shtml

http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.php?param=pgs20054/44

http://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/the-royal-women/anne-kiev-first-female-regent-france/

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~queens/Anne.html

http://history.info/on-this-day/1051-wedding-french-king-henry-anne-kiev/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-2281.12139/pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Kiev

http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/the-ryurikovich-dynasty/anna-yaroslavna/

Cerdic of Wessex: The First Anglo-Saxon King of Wessex (467-534)

Whenever we turn our eyes to the past, especially to England's, concerning monarchy's history, often we come to wonder who were those who ruled the kingdom before the infamous Plantagenets and their predecessors, the kings who came from the House of Normandy. Previously discussed on this blog, the head of its house was the viking Rollo whose famous descendant was William the Conqueror, who defeated the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold II, to sit in the English throne as William I. However, before this came to happen, we ask ourselves who were the Anglo-Saxons who governed England? It is known, nevertheless, that there were five kingdoms long way before the process of uniting such realms resulted in the reign later governed by other Houses, such as the Normans and their sucessors. 

These five kingdoms were known as the realms of East Anglia, Wessex, Essex, Northumbria and Mercia. Each one had its own rules and was commanded by their own leaders, chiefs of different tribes and, finally, kings. So today we will discuss one of them named Cerdic, who was said to be the first king of Wessex, an ancestor of Alfred the Great. We question ourselves, thus: what is known about the reign of Cerdic? Who was he as a historical character? Our aim is only a humble attempt to enlight to the public knowledge this figure who is certainly "famous" amongst the medievalists.

There is nothing about Cerdic's early life, except perhaps some suppositions surrouding his origins. For example, it is supposed that he came from a tribe of Saxons known by the name of 'Gewiss' and that, in fact, his name is of celtic origin, which might point out to the fact his mother was possibly a British and his father, a Saxon. We can perceive it here next:

"It has been suggested that Cerdic headed a British power bloc which, with Germanic mercenaries or help that was related to him throught intermarriage to Jutes or Saxons, staged a takeover and was able to set up a viable Brito-Saxon kingdom. Scholar K Sisam points out (in Anglo-Saxon Royal Genealogies, 1953) that Cerdic's pedigree has no independent authority. It has been put together from that of the Bernician kings and his real ancestry is unknown. He evidently could not claim descent from any Germanic family of importance. This seems to strenghten the possibilty of him having position and/or power with Romano-British society. Even the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (ASC) describes him and his 'son', Cynric, as earldormen, a term normally used in ninth century England for someone who was a prominent official having authority both civil and military, over a specific teritory forming part of a kingdom."

What we know of Cerdic, however, comes straight from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, as we see some fragments of events concerning the king's conquest below:

"A.D. 495. This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and Cynric his son, with five ships, at a place that is called Cerdic's-ley. And they fought with the Welsh the same day. (...)

"A.D. 508. This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king, whose name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him. After this was the land named Netley, from him, as far as Charford.

"A.D. 519. This year Cerdic and Cynric undertook the government of the West-Saxons; the same year they fought with the Britons at a place now called Charford. From that day have reigned the children of the West-Saxons kings."

"A.D 527. This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons in the place that is called Cerdic's-ley."

"A.D. 529. This year Cerdic and Cynric took the isle of Wight, and slew many men in Carisbrook."

"A.D. 534. This year died Cerdic, the first king of the West-Saxons. Cynric his son succeeded to the government, and reigned afterwards twenty-six winters. And they gave to their two nephews, Stuff and Wihtgar, the whole of the isle of Wight."

Despite the legitimacy of the ASC as a historical document, it is problematic to understand the figure of Cerdic based on this alone, since these Chronicles were written during the reign of  King Alfred the Great, and it favours the victories and the settlement of the Saxons, his ancestors, over the British rather than to enlight the event as it was. Nonetheless, it is important to perceive how the late 9th century saw Cerdic, as a conqueror coming from a foreigner tribe who could also be seen as a figure of resistance before the last Romans enduring in Britain, which some historians believe him to be the inspiration of King Arthur, or as a Saxon who defeated the Welsh, probably causing the separation from these nations for good.

We have, so far, questioned where he came from, and the results were, as discussed, very limited. Looking back at his deeds, how can we trace the person he was? What kind of leader was he? How did his tribe manage to settle in what later would be known as kingdom of Essex?

To trace the timeline, we can rely on Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, as the following excerpt shows:

"According to tradition, Cerdic and his (young) son Cynric, together with Saxon and possibly some Jutish companions, land in five ships on the south coast at Cerdices ora (Cerdic's Shore, possibly the western side of the Solent), and begin a takeover of the local Jutish, Saxon and sub-Roman territories. The Jutes and Saxons who are already settled there are apparently already referring to themselves as the West Seaxe (...). The fighting begins on the same day as Cerdic 'arrives', suggesting that his potential power play begins in violence or immediate resistance. If Cerdic is in fact a Briton who rebels against the remaining central authority then, given his location, he could be serving as magistrate of the Belgae territory of Caer Gwinntguic until he seizes part of the tribe's territory in order to found his own little empire."

So we have another interpretation of who Cerdic possibly had been: a man of noble birth, if he was indeed a magistrate, but one conscious of his own ambitions which leaded him to be crowned in later years as the first king of Wessex. This realm of his was named so because, as said above, the Saxons there residing styled themselves as West-Saxons. Wessex, thus, is the result of these names.

Those were, we must remember, turbulent days, so the arrival of Cerdic, as even the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles states, brought conflits which contested his presence, since he was not well seen by his enemies. However, Cerdic defeated all of those rivals, and, until the end of his reign, marked by the year of 534, he continued with the process of establishment, a result of his successful conquest. We assume, then, that he had the support of minor tribes, with the victory he had in the battles that helped to place him on the throne. Below, we have a better idea of how this occurred:

"Cerdic (...) defeats Natanleod's Britons. Afterwards the area is known as Natan leag (...). Having established a beachhead and killed the (possibly) legitimate governor or ruler, Cerdic may be the only hope in the region for strong governance, with the result that Britons, Saxons and Jutes join him. (...) After defeating Britons at Cerdices ford (...) Cerdic is declared king of the West Seaxe"

As a historical character, thus, we understand him as, based on the facts collected, a warrior figure of his time. Early Middle Ages is also marked by the constant migrations and a similar scenario can be stated over the next centuries, especially with the Viking's invasions, leaving a mark to when the cruzades began. Cerdic, for whatever reasons, migrated to the east and there established. His own name is cause for debates concerning its origins, with some consense stating that it was Briton name, which might indicate he was a son of a Briton mother and Saxon father. In some bibliographies here consulted, there can be found discussions of the reasons that leaded him to establish there, as we pointed out before: was he an ambitious magistered or an earldorman bound to another man by vassal connections? These connections came to an end only when one's overlord died. So perhaps with his death, was there a way open to Cerdic to conquer that settlement? 

In truth, we can only but especulate. Based where informations converge, some assumptions can be made, but this will be the limit of the construction of a character that was definitely very important to the history of Great-Britain. However, the closest source that could bring some enlightment of his person is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, even though those were written a few centuries later, when Cerdic was already dead.

What is most discussed about Cerdic is: was he really the famous King Arthur, supposedly said to have been the "father" of England, or was he just an inspiration? This have been a discussion amongst historians that, even nowadays, have come to no concrete results. Apparently, there are differences in times between Vortigern and Cerdic, but, if they did happen to live in the same context, Cerdic was a loyal man to the former and had been gone to Brittany, only to reclaim the lands in Wessex laterwards. It is, though, a topic that could drive long arguments, of pros and cons, which would lead us away from the main subject. So if Cerdic was really Arthur or if he inspired this medieval figure, we will possibly never know.

Bilbiography:

https://ia902605.us.archive.org/2/items/Anglo-saxonChronicles/anglo_saxon_chronicle.pdf

http://steventill.com/2009/04/07/famous-people-in-medieval-history-cerdic-first-king-of-wessex/

http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/EnglandWessex.htm

http://www.robertsewell.ca/england.html

http://levigilant.com/Bulfinch_Mythology/bulfinch.englishatheist.org/arthur/Caradoc-Vreichvras.htm#c

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Kings-Queens-of-Wessex/

http://www.ancient.eu/Cerdic/

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_22.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerdic_of_Wessex

Rollo Ragnvaldsson, The Ganger: The Viking Who Conquered Normandy (842/860-932)

                                             

                             

Today, we intend to present on this post who was the famous viking who succeeded in conquering Normandy during the days that were marked by foreigner invasions, where wars ecloded between neighbours and also where Christianity, though already established, still struggled to settle. His name being Rollo, in our contemporary days he is now a character at the famous tv show known by the name of "Vikings". But, in reality, who was this man? Was he only the anti-hero brother of Ragnar Lothbrok? It's what this post intends to try to lighten up his mystic figure.

For a start, his name and birth date differs. Although he is addressed as Rollo the Ganger (in Old Norse: Göngu Hrólf) by many bibliographies here consulted, he is sometimes referred as Ralf, Hrolf and, after his baptism, as Robert I. Even towards the year he was born, there is no common sense surrounding it: as it is unknown the precise date he was born, historians speculate the years of 842 and 860. His father was probably the Jarl Rognvald Eysteinsson, whilst the identity of his mother is said to have been a woman named Ragnhildr or Hildr, and there is very little if not nothing about her.

We can have a better understanding of  below:

"The origin of  Rollo is contraversial. There are several medieval sources which claim to give information about the origin of Rollo, the most widely repeated of which would make him a son of Rognvaldr, jarl of More by Ragnhildr or Hildr. As can be seen from the following brief notices, the various primary sources offer very contradictory information about Rollo's origin."

"According to Dudo of St. Quentin (writing early 11th century), author of the earliest history of the Normans, Rollo had a younger brother named Gurim, presumed to be the familiar name Gorm. Dudo states that Rollo and Gurim were sons of a man who held many lands in "Dacia" (Dudo's word for Denmark, following other authors), and that after the death of the (unnamed) father of Rollo and Gurim, the king of Dacia fought against the sons, killing Gurim and driving Rollo out [Dudo ii, 2-4 (pp.26-7)]. (...)"

Physically, it's even more difficult to state how Rollo was. But, having received the nickname of "the Ganger", all we know is that he was tall and large enough that he had to walk as no horse could carry him. Either way, once it is discussed his background in Norway, as Dane was probably a word to address those born in the Scandinavian regions and not necessarily exclusive in Denmark, we will now go forward to his expeditions as viking. 

That being said, according to Dudo of St Quentin, Rollo was expelled from his lands because of a fight against the king of Norway, of which resulted in the death of his brother, and so he sailed in an expedition to the west. His incursions led him to Ireland, Scotland and, finally, to France, where he'd lead a famous siege in Paris around the year of 885, though some claim the date of his arrival in France was circa 900. 

"According to Dudo of Saint-Quentin, Rollo arrived in northern France in 876 [156], although there is some debate about [900] being a more likely date [157]. William of Jumièges records that Rollo was chosen by lot to be leader of the Viking colonists [158]. Viking raids intensified in northern France. Although they were defeated after raiding Chartres [911], Charles III "le Simple" King of the West Franks granted the Normans land around Rouen in which to settle [159]. The uncertain nature of the demise was the source of future problems between the French crown, which claimed that it was an enfeofment for which the ruleer owed allegiance, (...). A charter dated 14 Mar 918 which granted land to the monastery of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, "except that part...which we have granted to the Normans of the Seine, namely to Rollo and his companions" [160]. He was later known as Robert I Comte [de Normandie]."

This last paragraph tells us what happened after the siege of Paris, whose date is uncertain, despite the discussion of it being already mentioned. To avoid furthermore invasions from the Vikings, Charles the Simple, King of West Francia, raised an army, ready to fight them away, but instead he came to an agreement with their leader, Rollo. Here we have Rollo making a peace treaty that would bring benefits to both sides: if he and his companions converted to Christianity, they would be granted lands and wives. Marriage and lands were important instruments in Middle Ages for peace to be arranged and, thus, Rollo agreed. However, some historians state that "Rollo's conversion to Christianity (...) and his gift of land from the King of France should not be misinterpreted. Very likely Rollo's Christianity was of a very limited character, and his supposed loyalty to the king of France could not be counted upon." 

As for the marriage, there have been some discussions about that, whilst he was in Ireland, he contracted marriage to a woman with whom he had his first child, William "Longsword", who would inherite the Norman lands, There have been suggested that the names of the women he was married to were Gisela or Poppa, both women having been of a certain noble status.

"In 911, Hrofl began a siege of Chartres. Many noblemen answered the plea for help from the Bishop and Hrolf was defeated on July 20, 911 at the Battle of Chartres. The result was the Treaty of St-Claire-sur-Epte. Hrolf swore fealty to the French king (...), converted to Christianity, was baptized with the name Robert and may have married Charles's presumably illegitimate daughter Gisela."

Nevertheless, "Dudo records that Rollo took Popa (or Poppa), a daughter of Berenger, Count of Rennes, as a wife and with her had their son and Rollo's heir, William. It is impossible to verify this and Douglas dismissed it. Dudo also records that Charles the Simple gave one of his daughters, Gisela, in marriage to Rollo, but Douglas considers this in the "highest degree improbable". Douglas accepts a story from an Icelandic saga that, while in Scotland, Rollo married a Christian woman and had a daughter, Kathleen; according to the sagas, she married a Scottish King called Beolan, and had at least a daughter called Nithbeorg, who was taken captive by and married to Helgi Ottarson. Another daughter, Gerloc or Adele, who married William III, Duke of Aquitaine, was (...) accepted by Crouch as a daughter of Rollo and Popa."

Perhaps, what is likely to presume is that Rollo was married to Poppa, the daughter of an Earl, as the result of a peace treaty between the West Franks and the Vikings with whom they had William and Adele, and possibly Gisela was Rollo's second wife. Others claim that Rollo was already married and repudiated his first wife to marry Poppa, but, with contradictions as these found in the bibliographies and few sources reliable, we can only but speculate. 

As a result of these marriages, nonetheless, Rollo's children would spread his blood throughtout Europe, making him the ancestor of every royal house that rules, or not, Europe in the present days. Through his son, William Longsword, he is the ancestor of William the Conqueror, whose descendants lead him to Elizabeth II of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northean Ireland. And through his daughter, Adele, the French monarchs descend of him as well. 

Rollo abdicated of being the Count of Normandy to his son and died around the year of  932, and the cause of his death is not known.

Bibliography:

http://www.labrujulaverde.com/2016/03/la-verdadera-historia-de-rollo-el-vikingo-del-que-descienden-todos-los-actuales-monarcas-europeos

https://www.geni.com/people/Gange-Hr%C3%B3lfr-Rollo-of-Normandy/2915061

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/9329/20140322/history-channel-vikings-season-2-who-real-rollo-lothbrook.htm

http://homepages.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy2/ps05/ps05_073.htm

http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/fmma/fmma16.htm

https://thefreelancehistorywriter.com/2014/03/14/rollo-viking-count-of-normandy/

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/dukes_of_normandy.htm

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm

http://www.brumm.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I2917&tree=Everyone

http://www.deloriahurst.com/deloriahurst%20page/3310.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Rollo.aspx

http://sinclair.quarterman.org/who/rollo.html

http://www.mathematical.com/rollo.html

Alfonso I, the Battler: King of Aragón (1073/1074-1134)

Looking back to Middle Ages, it is not rare we have to deal with certain social aspects that can be found, even in our present days, in to the popular imagination. The figure of knighthood, once worked in this blog throught the figure of Edward Woodville, and of the brave warrior are two of these. The King of Spain, though not emboding in his person the romantic qualities that could make him a knight, was in some matters one of his own. A devout Christian who fought away the Muslims for his faith, a king born to conquer, with ambitions to unify Spain way before Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon.

So today we speak of this figure who attends by the name of Alfonso of  the House Jiménez, son of Sancho Ramírez, who was King of Aragon and Navarre by the time of his birth. His mother is recorded to have been a woman known as Felicie de Soucy, and had two older brothers: Peter I of Aragon and Navarre, Ferdinand, who died in infancy, and a younger brother known as Ramiro, who would succeed Alfonso as Ramiro II.

What is known about his early life is that he spent it at the monastery of Siresa, where he learned to read, write and military arts. Next, already under the reign of his brother, Peter I, he participated "in the taking of Huesca (the Battle of Alcoraz, 1096), which became the largest city in the kingdom and the new capital. He also joined El Cid's expeditions in Valencia." 

Upon the death of his niece and nephew, and soon of his own brother, Alfonso of Jiménez succeeded Peter as King Alfonso I. His reign is most remembered for militaries expeditions, as we can see below:

"His first four years as King of Aragon were spent in a state of almost constant warfare with the Islamic Kingdoms of Spain. In 1105 he conquered Ejea and Tauste and reinforced the Christian territories of Castellar and Juslibol; in 1106 he achieved a victory over al-Musta in of Zaragoza at Valtierra, and in 1107 he took Tamarite de Litera and Esteban de la Litera. Disputes over his claims to the four kingdoms in 1109 meant his conquests into Muslim territory were halted for several years, but by 1117 he was prepared to launch some of his most ambitious campaigns yet."

In his 30 years, or a little more than that, he was married to the ambitious Queen Urraca of Castile and León, with whom he would have a troubled and conflituous matrimony. As it happened to Henry II of England, if we can compare such stories, when he was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alfonso I became a very powerful man, holding several titles thanks to the marriage as he styled himself "King and Emperor of Castille, Toledo, Aragón, Pamplona, Sobrarbe and Ribagorza in recognition of his rights as Urraca's husband (...)", which would be the cause of the conflits with Urraca as we can see below:

"He married Urraca, the heiress of Alfonso VI, the king of Leon and Castille. (...) This union ultimately failed for a variety of reasons, including interference from the church and political intrigues between the kingdoms, and Alfonso eventually gave up his claim to all but the Aragon throne in 1126."

"A passionate fighting-man (he fought twenty-nine battles against Christian or Moor), he was married (...) in 1109 to (...) Queen Urraca of Léon, widow of Raymond of Burgundy (...). The marriage had been arranged by her father Alfonso VI of Léon in 1106 to unite the two chief Christian states against the Almoravids, and to supply them with a capable military leader. But Urraca was tenacious of her right as queen regnant (...). Husband and wife quarrelled with the brutality of the age and came to open war, even placing Urraca under siege at Astorga in 1112."

And as said above, he was successful in such conflits thanks to his abilities as soldier. Nevertheless, the marriage with Urraca failed in producing an heir to this vast kingdom of his. Still, he continued to focus in his militaries expeditions against the moors, a mark of his reign. In addition to this, "Ibn al-Athir (1166-1234) describes Alfonso as a tireless soldier who would sleep in his armor without benefit of cover, who responded when asked why he did not take his pleasure from one of the captives of Muslim chiefs, responded that the man devoted to war needs the companionship of men not women."

Despite complications with Church, and with the Pope annuling his marriage to Urraca, Alfonso, nevertheless, continued to use his connections with her in order to keep the use of his styles, wishing to tie several kingdoms into one, though this would be successful with generations later only. Yet, upon the death of his wife, he ceased to style himself as emperor, but continued to fight away the moors and conquering cities, as we can see in the next paragraph:

"Over the next fifteen years his raids into Muslim territory continued, with more cities falling under his control. His success were complicated by disputes with leaders of the other Christian kingdoms in Northern Spain and France, which on several occasions forced him to abandon his campaigns to secure his own territory. His war effort depended on soldiers from other Christian kingdoms, which frequently pulled him out of the battle zoe to resolve political issues."

Finally, it was on the 8th day of September of 1134 that Alfonso the Battler died, months later after conquering Fraga with only 500 soldiers. His death resulted in a crisis, since his younger brother was tied to his vows, once he was a monk, and consequently some of his conquests were dissociated, though Aragon and Catalunia were united, whilst Aragon and Navarre were separated. As Ramiro, his brother, was a monk, another partisan came to succeed Alfonso, his name being Pedro de Altarés, the grandson of Alfonso's illegitimate uncle, but in the end all sides came to support Ramiro, who received permission to break his vows in order to keep the Aragonese nobility in order. 

But Ramiro, who became Ramiro II, would not last much on his throne. He did marry and had a daughter, but he repudiated his consort and abdicated three years later, leaving to his son-in-law rule as Ramon Berenguer IV until his daughter Petronilla reached majority. But she too would eventually abdicate and it was not until Alfonso II came to rule that things started to stabilize, despite a pretender to his throne came to his reign claiming to be Alfonso I, but this said man, an imposter, ended hanged for treason.

Bibliography:

http://www.newhistorian.com/alfonso-battler-muslim-spain/2447/

http://www.liquisearch.com/alfonso_the_battler

http://www.liquisearch.com/imperator_totius_hispaniae/history/outside_of_le%C3%B3n_and_castile/alfonso_the_battler

http://www.liquisearch.com/alfonso_the_battler/death/pseudo-alfonso_the_battler

https://tenthmedieval.wordpress.com/tag/alfonso-the-battler/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_the_Battler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancho_Ram%C3%ADrez

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronilla_of_Aragon