Álvaro Pérez de Lara

Álvaro Pérez de Lara was a nobleman of the Lara family. He was the youngest son of Pedro González de Lara. His mother was Eva, who may have been a daughter of Pedro Froilaz de Traba, or perhaps a Frenchwoman. She was originally married to García Ordóñez, but was married to Pedro by November 1127 at the latest. Álvaro is mentioned in documents between 8 February 1141 and 10 May 1172. He held the tenencia of Aguilar de Campóo for a long time early in his career (1146–65). He also patronised the Praemonstratensian monastery there. On 15 February 1149 he called himself filius comitis in a document, perhaps to indicate his aspiration for a comital title. He is first recorded as a count, the highest title granted in the kingdom, on 19 November 1166.