County of Álava

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County of Álava
Arabako konderria
Condado de Álava
c. 860–c. 1200
StatusVassal of the Kingdom of Asturias
Vassal of the Kingdom of León
Vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre
CapitalVictoriacum
GovernmentCounty
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
c. 860
• Annexation to the Kingdom of Castile
c. 1200
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Asturias
Duchy of Gascony
Kingdom of Castile

The County of Álava (Basque: Arabako konderria) was one of the Basque señoríos, a feudal territory during the 9th and 13th centuries that corresponds to present-day Álava, in the Basque Country. Until the final invasion and incorporation into the Kingdom of Castile in the year 1200, the county was governed by counts vassals of the Kingdoms of Asturias, León and Navarre, being under the sphere of influence of one or the other at different times. The figure governing Alava received the title of Count of Álava.[1]

Counts of Álava

The Counts of Álava were the governing figures of the County of Álava and were, at different times, under the sphere of influence of the kingdoms of Asturias, Navarre and, ultimately, Castile.

Vassals of the Asturian monarchs

Name Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death
Eylo
c. 868
Rodrigo of Castile
Also first Count of Castile
c.860-c.870
Unknown Egilona 873
Vela Jiménez
Also known as Vigila Scemeniz
c.882-c.897
Unknown Velasquita Sánchez
two children
Unknown
Gonzalo Téllez
Known as Count of Lantaron and Cerezo
c.897-c.919
Unknown Flámula 915
Munio Vélaz
Known as Monnio Uigilazi in Alaba
c.919
Unknown
Son of Vela Jiménez and Velasquita Sánchez
Velasquita
four children
919
Fernando Díaz
923
Unknown
Son of Diego Rodríguez Porcelos
Unknown
Unknown
Álvaro Herraméliz
Known as Count of Lantaron and Álava
c929-931
Unknown Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona
two children
Unknown
Fernán González of Castile
Also Count of Castile
932-970
c.910
Son of Gonzalo Fernández of Castile and Muniadona of Lara
Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona, widow of Álvaro Herrameliz
seven children
970
García Fernández of Castile
Of the white hands
Also Count of Castile

970-995
938
Son of Fernán González of Castile and Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona
Ava of Ribagorza
seven children
995
Sancho García of Castile
Also Count of Castile
995
c.965
Son of García Fernández of Castile and Ava of Ribagorza
Urraca Gómez
five children
1017

Vassals of the Navarrese monarchs

Name Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death
Munio González
c.1030
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Fortún Íñiguez
c.1043
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Munio Muñoz
c.1045
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Alvaro Díaz known as Don Marcelo
c.1056
Unknown Goto López before July 1072

Vassals of the Castilian monarchs

Name Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Death
Lope Íñiguez
Also Lord of Biscay
c.1076
c.1050
Son of Íñigo López and Toda Fortunez
Ticlo Díaz[2]
five children
1093
Lope González
c.1093
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Lope Sánchez
c.1099
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Diego López
the White
Also Lord of Biscay

1093–1124
1075
Son of Lope Íñiguez and Ticlo Díaz
María Sánchez
three children
1124
Ladrón Íñiguez
c.1130
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Lope Díaz
the one from Nájera
Also Lord of Biscay

1125–1170
Unknown
Son of Diego López and María Sánchez
Aldonza[3]
eleven children
6 May 1170
Vela Ladrón
Vela from Navarre
Also Lord of Biscay

c.1155
1115
Son of Ladrón Íñiguez
Unknown 1173
Juan Vélaz
c.1174
Unknown
Son of Vela Ladrón
Unknown Unknown

From the year 1200, the County of Álava was fully incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile and the title of Count of Álava ceased to be used.

References

  1. ^ Martínez Díez, Gonzalo (2005). El condado de Castilla (711-1038): la historia frente a la leyenda. Marcial Pons Historia, p.199. ISBN 9788495379948.
  2. ^ Balparda de las Herrerías 1933–34, pp. 257 and 259.
  3. ^ Salazar y Acha 1985, pp. 57–60.

Works cited

  • Balparda de las Herrerías, Gregorio de (1933–34). Historia crítica de Vizcaya y de sus Fueros. Vol. II, Libro III. El primer fuero de Vizcaya, el de los Señores. Bilbao: Imprenta Mayli. OCLC 634212337.
  • Salazar y Acha, Jaime de (1985). Una Familia de la Alta Edad Media: Los Velas y su Realidad Histórica. Asociación Española de Estudios Genealógicos y Heráldicos. ISBN 84-398-3591-4.

See also