{sahn'-choh}
Sancho III, c.992-1035, king of Navarre (1000-35), also ruled theadjacent county of Aragon and, through marriage, politics, and force,added both the county of Castile (1029) and the kingdom of Leon (1034) tohis domain. By assuming the title of emperor, he claimed leadership ofChristian Spain. He encouraged Europeans to make the pilgrimage to theshrine of Santiago de Compostela and welcomed the monks of Cluny, thushelping to integrate Christian Spain more fully into the Europeanreligious and cultural mainstream. Much of his work was undone upon hisdeath, when his dominions were divided among his four sons. Each bore thetitle of king; thus Castile and Aragon were made kingdoms.
