García Fernández of Castile

García I on the Royal Palace of Madrid

García Fernández, called of the White Hands (Spanish: Él de las Manos Blancas) (Burgos, 938 — Córdoba, 995), was the count of Castile and Alava from 970 to 995.

The son of Count Fernán González, he continued to recognise the suzerainty of the Kingdom of León, even though he was practically autonomous. In order to expand his frontiers at the expense of the Moors, in 974 he expanded the social base of the nobility by promulgating decrees stating that any villein of Castrojeriz who equipped a knight for battle would enter the ranks of the nobility. He was succeeded by his son, Sancho I of Castile.

Offspring

In 960, Garcia married Ava of Ribagorza, daughter of Raymond II, count of Ribagorza. They had seven children:

• Mayor García, married Raymond III, count of Pallars-Jussà, they claimed Ribagorza
• Sancho García, conde de Castilla
• Urraca García
• Gonzalo García (died 979)
• Elvira García (died 1017), married in 991 Bermudo II of León
• Toda García, married Sancho Gómez of Saldaña, of the powerful Beni Gómez family
• Oneca García, married in 995 Almanzar, chamberlain of Cordoba

Ancestry

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