(born before June 1040—died 1109, Toledo, Castile) King of León (1065–70) and of Castile and León (1072–1109). He inherited León from his father, Ferdinand I, and warred with his envious brother Sancho II.
On Sancho's death he inherited Castile (1072); he also occupied Galicia and imprisoned his brother García, its rightful ruler. In 1077 Alfonso proclaimed himself emperor of all Spain. He took Toledo from the Muslims, but his demands for tribute led to the invasion of Spain by the North African Almoravids, and he was defeated at Zallaqah (1086). The Cid became an ally and defended eastern Spain, but Alfonso continued to lose ground against the Berber armies.
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