Gonzalo García Gudiel

Who is Gonzalo García Gudiel?

Gonzalo García Gudiel was a Castilian prelate and statesman in the service of kings Alfonso X and Sancho IV and Pope Boniface VIII. He was Bishop of Cuenca and Burgos and Archbishop of Toledo, the first official Primate of Spain and finally Cardinal-bishop of Albano at the curia Romana. His early career was that of an international scholar, before he settled into royal service.

Born at Toledo in 1238 or 1239 to the mayor, Pedro Juanes, and his wife, Teresa Juanes Ponce, Gonzalo went to study at the University of Paris. In 1260 he became the rector of the University of Padua. After a sojourn in Rome, he returned to Castile to become a first a canon of the Cathedral of Burgos and then the dean of the chapter at the Cathedral of Toledo.

In 1272, Gonzalo was elected Bishop of Cuenca. During this period he served the king at times as a notary public. In 1274 he received a gift from the king, and the charter was written up by Ferrand Martínez. On 27 September 1275 he was translated to the see of Burgos, and in May 1280 to the archdiocese of Toledo, the most important bishopric in Castile. In 1285 he was recognised as the primate of Spain.