[Menydh]

Whatever the origin of the name Guzmán, the fact remains that the origins of Alonso Pérez de Guzmán are obscure to say the least.

He is known to have been in the service of the Emir of Fez, and made his fortune there in Northern Africa, which allowed him to buy properties in Spain.

I will agree that the present Duchess of Medina-Sidonia (known as the Red Duchess) has indeed an obscure agenda. But it is also true that her sources are in the Archives of the House of Medina-Sidonia.

The House of the Ponce de León family had estates in Castille because they were Old Christians. The Guzmanes of Sanlúcar did not have any, because the founder of the House was from beyond the seas, land of Muslims. He immigrated with money, bringing García Gallegos with him. And he bought harbours and arable land, in the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva, where he owned Lepe, Ayamonte and La Redondela. He died without writing his last wills, distributing his posessions his widow, María Alphon. The family hagiographist, Barrantes, hides the Aphon of Jewish connotations, which appears in the last will and other documents, in reference to this lady, without the Coronel attached to it. But it does appear in a writing preserved in Santa Inés of Seville. Dated in 1302, María Alfonso Coronel, "wife that I am of Alfonso Pérez de Gosman", appears as the daughter of Ferrand González Coronel and of Sancha Vázquez, of who she inherited estates in Portugal.

In the verses of the "Provincial", the Guzmán coetaneous of Enrique IV, is treated as "Moorish dog". And he is accused of singing the "verses of the Quram" in the choir.

Source: Fundación Casa de Medina Sidonia