Vellido Adolfo (died 6 October 1072), also known as Bellido Dolfos, was a noble of the County of Zamora who assassinated King Sancho II of Castile on 6 October 1072 as a favor for Countess Urraca of Zamora, the king's sister.
Biography[]
Vellido Adolfo was born in Zamora to a Catholic family of nobles, and he was recruited by the Moorish emir Ibn Yusuf to assassinate King Sancho II of Castile to stir up violence between the kingdoms of Castile and Leon in preparation for a large Moorish invasion. Vellido approached Sancho's sister Countess Urraca of Zamora on the city walls of Calahorra in October 1072, offering to kill Sancho and force his army to retreat from his siege of the city. She agreed, and Adolfo rode on horseback to Sancho's camp, where he greeted Sancho.
Assassination of Sancho[]
Adolfo's death at the hands of El Cid
Adolfo and Sancho walked alone into the royal tent, and Adolfo informed him that he could show him an undefended gate at the back of the castle. Sancho trusted him because Adolfo was trusted by the late King Fernando I of Leon, Sancho's father, and Adolfo was unarmed when he met with Sancho. The two rode to the side of the castle before dismounting, as Adolfo told Sancho that it would be better to continue on foot. Adolfo informed him that the gate was around the corner, and he took a dagger hidden in the rocks of the castle wall and stabbed Sancho in the back as he rounded the corner. The knight El Cid, who was in the castle, heard Sancho's shout and rushed to catch Adolfo. Adolfo banged on the gate, asking the defenders to open it, and El Cid ran Adolfo through the chest with a sword, as El Cid had sworn allegiance to Sancho and refused to take sides in the conflict between the brothers.