“Comes Fredinandus Gundisalviz cum uxore mea Sanzia comitissa et cum filiis meis Gundisalvus Fredinandi et Garsea Fredinandi et Sancio Fredinandi et Munio Fredinandi et domna Fronilde” donated the monastery of San Miguel de Javilla to San Pedro de Cardeñas by charter dated 941. "Fredinando comes…cum uxore mea…Sancia cometissa" donated property to the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla by charter dated 944, confirmed by "…Gundissalvo Fernandez, Sancio Fernandez, Garcia Fernandez…".
He succeeded his father in 970 as Conde de Castilla. He inherited a county considerably weakened by Muslim attacks during the last years of his father's rule, and on his accession accepted the suzerainty of Caliph al-Hakam II. A charter dated 7 Sep 972 records the exchange of Covarrubias between the abbot of Infantado de Covarrubias and "domno Garsea comite sive domna Ava cometissa et filiis adque filiabus vestris". In 974, Conde García captured Deza. "Garssia Ferdinandi…comes et imperator Castelle…cum uxore mea Abba comitisse" granted fuero to Castrojeriz by charter dated 8 Mar 974, subscribed by "Sanctio filio nostra, Urraca filia nostra…". His success was short-lived as he unsuccessfully besieged Gormaz in Apr 975 and was defeated at Langa on the banks of the River Duero. Conde García allied himself with Ghalib bin Abd al-Rahman, who had been Caliph al-Hakam II's trusted general, and opposed the rise to power of Muhammad bin Abi Amir "al-Mansur/the Victorious" after the accession of al-Hakam's son Caliph Hisham in 976. However, al-Mansur led several successful campaigns against Castile which was further weakened during the last years of the rule of Conde García, whose son eventually rebelled against him. "Garsias Ferdinandez…cum coniuge mea Ava comitisa" founded the monastery of Infantado de Covarrubias, offering "filiam…nostram Urracam" as a nun there, by charter dated 25 Dec 978, confirmed by "Sancio Garsea, Gundisalbo Garsea…Sancio rex, Urraka regina, rege Scemeno, Fortuni Garsea, Didago Aznariz, Tellu Gundisalbiz, Sancio Ennegonis, Tota comitissa, Fronilde comitissa…". The Annales Complutense record that “Sancius Garsia” rebelled against “patrem suum comitem Garsia Fernandez” in 990. "Garcia…comes" confirmed a donation to the monastery of San Miguel de Pedroso by charter dated 979, confirmed by "…Gundessalvo Fredinandez, Gundissalvo Arderiz…Hani Godestioz, Didaco Fredinandez, Alvaro Sarrazinez, Didaco Scemenoz, Gotier Gomiz".
The Chronicon Burgense records that “comes Garsea Ferdinandi” was captured and wounded “VIII Kal Jan” in 995 “in ripa de Dorio”, died five days later while being taken to Córdoba, and was buried “ad Caradignam”. The Annales Complutense record the death “Kal Aug” in 995 of “Conde Garci Fernandez” after being captured by the Moors. 1
Research Notes: