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Pelagius of Asturias

October 21, 2023

Pelagius (Asturian: Pelayu; Galician: Paio; Spanish: Pelayo; Portuguese: Pelágio, c. 685 – 737) was a Hispano-Visigoth nobleman who founded the Kingdom of Asturias in 718.[1] Pelagius is credited with initiating the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors, and establishing the Asturian monarchy, making him the forefather of all the future Iberian monarchies, including the Kings of Castile, the Kings of León, and the Kings of Portugal.

Pelagius
A depiction of the Battle of Covadonga in a decorated initial from a 12th-century illustrated manuscript of the Liber testamentorum. Pelayo, crowned and holding a cross, is leading at the top.
King of Asturias
Reign718–737
SuccessorFavila of Asturias
Bornc. 685
Died737
Burial
Santa Cueva de Covadonga
Issue
DynastyAstur-Leonese dynasty
FatherFavila of Cantabria [gl]
ReligionChalcedonian Christianity

Early life Edit

Pelagius was a Visigoth nobleman, the son of Fafila. The Chronica Albeldense says that this Fafila was a dux of Gallaecia, who was killed by Wittiza.[2] The Chronicle of Alfonso III identifies Pelagius as a grandson of Chindasuinth and says that his father was blinded in Córdoba, at the instigation of Wittiza.[3] Wittiza is also said to have exiled Pelagius from Toledo upon assuming the crown in 702. In the opinion of Roger Collins, this is a late tradition and the account of the Albeldense, which locates Pelagius' origins in the north of the peninsula, is more credible. Both chronicles agree, however, that he was a Visigoth who was exiled from Toledo by Wittiza.[3]

According to the later tradition, Munuza, the Berber governor of Iegione (either Gijón or León), became attracted to Pelagius' sister and sent word to Tariq ibn Ziyad, who ordered him to capture Pelagius and send him to Córdoba.[4] If Munuza's seat is identified with Gijón, it may be inferred that the Arabs had established their rule in the Asturias and that Pelagius was not the leader of a local resistance to Arab conquest.[5] Pelagius may have come to terms with the Arab elite whereby he was permitted to govern locally in the manner of the previous Visigoths, as is known to have occurred between Arab rulers and Visigothic noblemen elsewhere, as in the case of Theudimer,[6] although most historians consider this unlikely.[7]

Reign Edit

At some point Pelagius is said to have rebelled, but for what reasons is unknown; such rebellions by local authorities against their superiors formed a common theme in Visigothic Spain. A Muslim army was sent against him under the command of Alkama and the Christian bishop of Seville, Oppa. That Alkama was the general and that there was a bishop of Seville named Oppa among his ranks is generally accepted.[4] A battle was fought near Covadonga (in monte Auseva or in monte Libana) in which Alkama was killed and Oppa captured.[4] Moorish chronicles of the event describe Pelagius and his small force as "thirty wild donkeys", as reported by al-Maqqari in the 17th century.[8][9] The battle is usually dated to 718 or 719, between the governorships of al-Hurr and as-Sham, though some have dated it as late as 722 and the Chronica Albeldensia dates it in the 740s.

 
Ducado de Cantabria in 739 : Pelagius son of Favila Duque de Cantabria. "Genealogia dos Reis de Portugal" 1530

After his election as princeps (prince, principal leader) of the Asturians by the local magnates in the Visigothic manner,[6] Pelagius made his capital at Cangas de Onís. The Chronica Rotensis says about this election:[10]

And he [Pelagius], going to his mountainous lands, gathered all those who were going to council and ascended a big mountain named Asseuua. He spread his orders between all the Astures, who gathered in council and elected Pelagius as their princeps.[11]

His kingdom, firstly centred on the eastern Asturias, soon grew. He married his daughter Ermesinda to the future king Alfonso I, son of Pelagius' eastern neighbour, Duke Peter of Cantabria.[12]

Pelagius reigned for eighteen or nineteen years until his death in 737, when he was succeeded by his son Fafila.[13]

He was buried in the church of Santa Eulalia de Abamia, located in the surroundings of the village of Corao, near Cangas de Onís. His remains were transferred by King Alfonso X of Castile to the Holy Cave of Covadonga, as were those of his wife Gaudiosa and his sister. He left, in addition to his son and successor Fafila, a daughter, Ermesinda, who was to become progenitress, along with King Alfonso I of Asturias ("Alfonso the Catholic"), of the later royalty of Asturias.

Historiography Edit

 
Imaginary portrait by Luis de Madrazo.

The chief sources for Pelagius's life and career are two Latin chronicles written in the late ninth century in the kingdom he founded. The first is the Chronica Albeldensia, written at Albelda towards 881, and preserved in the Codex Vigilanus, with a continuation to 976.[14] The latter is the Chronicle of Alfonso III, which was revised in the early tenth century and preserved in two textual traditions that diverge in several key passages:[14] the Chronica Rotensis, preserved in the Códice de Roda,[11] and the Chronica ad Sebastianum,[15] supposedly written by Sebastian, Bishop of Salamanca (910–913).[16] The only likely earlier written sources from which these chroniclers could derive information are regnal lists.[2]

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Collins 1989, p. 147; Reilly 1993, pp. 75–76; Deyermond 1985, p. 346; Hillgarth 2009, p. 66 n. 28
  2. ^ a b Collins 1989, p. 143
  3. ^ a b Collins 1989, p. 144
  4. ^ a b c Collins 1989, p. 145
  5. ^ Collins 1989, p. 148
  6. ^ a b Collins 1989, p. 149
  7. ^ Reilly 1993, p. 397.
  8. ^ "Extract from C. Sánchez Albornoz and M. Antuña's Fuentes de la historia hispano-musulmana del siglo VIII featuring a translation of an excerpt from Al Maqqari's Nafh al-Tib" 2007-06-10 at the Wayback Machine in the on-line Biblioteca Cervantes (Spanish)
  9. ^ al-Maqqari 1843, p. 261
  10. ^ García Villada 1918, pp. 109–110
  11. ^ a b Gil Fernández, Moralejo & Ruiz de la Peña 1985, Editionis Rotensis; pp. 114–149 (in Latin)
  12. ^ Collins 2012, p. 64
  13. ^ Collins 1989, p. 150
  14. ^ a b Collins 1989, p. 142
  15. ^ Gil Fernández, Moralejo & Ruiz de la Peña 1985, Editionis ad Sebastianum; pp. 114–149 (in Latin)
  16. ^ "Sebastián, Bishop of Salamanca, fl. 910–913". Library of Congress Authorities. Library of Congress.

References Edit

  • al-Maqqari, Ahmed Mohammed (1843). De Gayangos, Pascual (ed.). The History Of The Mohammedan Dynasties In Spain. Vol. II. W.H.Allen And Company.
  • Castillo Álvarez, Arcadio del; Montenegro Valentín, Julia (1992). "Don Pelayo y los orígenes de la Reconquista". Revista Española de Historia (in Spanish). 52 (180): 5–32. ISSN 0018-2141.
  • Castillo Álvarez, Arcadio del; Montenegro Valentín, Julia (1995). . Historia Antigua. Espacio, Tiempo y Forma (in Spanish). 8: 507–520. ISSN 1130-1082. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15.
  • Collins, Roger (2012). "Caliphs and Kings: Spain, 796-1031". A History of Spain. Vol. 16. John Wiley & Sons. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-118-27399-9. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  • Collins, Roger (1989). The Arab Conquest of Spain, 710-797. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-15923-1.
  • Deyermond, Alan (1985). "The Death and Rebirth of Visigothic Spain in the Estoria de España". Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos. 9 (3): 345–67.
  • García Villada, Zacarías, ed. (1918). "Rotensis". Crónica de Alfonso III (in Spanish and Latin). Madrid: Sucesores de Rivadeneyra. pp. 99–132. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  • Gil Fernández, Juan; Moralejo, José L.; Ruiz de la Peña, Juan Ignacio (1985). Crónicas Asturianas (in Spanish). Universidad de Oviedo. pp. 194–222. ISBN 978-84-600-4405-5. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  • Goode, Pauline L. (1927). "Covadonga, Su Historia y su Leyenda". Hispania. 10 (3): 160–166. doi:10.2307/331236. ISSN 0018-2133. JSTOR 331236.
  • Hillgarth, J. N. (2009). The Visigoths in History and Legend. Toronto: Pontifical Institute for Medieval Studies.
  • Reilly, Bernard F. (1993). The Medieval Spains. Cambridge Medieval Textbooks. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-39741-3.
Further reading
  • Díaz y Díaz, Manuel C. (2001). Asturias en el siglo VIII: La cultura literaria. Oviedo: Sueve.

External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pelayo I of Asturias.
  • Charles Morris, "Pelistes, The Defender Of Cordova", Historical Tales: Spanish, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1898.
New title King of Asturias
718–737 		Succeeded by

October 21, 2023
pelagius, asturias, pelagius, asturian, pelayu, galician, paio, spanish, pelayo, portuguese, pelágio, hispano, visigoth, nobleman, founded, kingdom, asturias, pelagius, credited, with, initiating, reconquista, christian, reconquest, iberian, peninsula, from, m. Pelagius Asturian Pelayu Galician Paio Spanish Pelayo Portuguese Pelagio c 685 737 was a Hispano Visigoth nobleman who founded the Kingdom of Asturias in 718 1 Pelagius is credited with initiating the Reconquista the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors and establishing the Asturian monarchy making him the forefather of all the future Iberian monarchies including the Kings of Castile the Kings of Leon and the Kings of Portugal PelagiusA depiction of the Battle of Covadonga in a decorated initial from a 12th century illustrated manuscript of the Liber testamentorum Pelayo crowned and holding a cross is leading at the top King of AsturiasReign718 737SuccessorFavila of AsturiasBornc 685Died737BurialSanta Cueva de CovadongaIssueFavila of Asturias Ermesinda of AsturiasDynastyAstur Leonese dynastyFatherFavila of Cantabria gl ReligionChalcedonian Christianity Contents 1 Early life 2 Reign 3 Historiography 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditPelagius was a Visigoth nobleman the son of Fafila The Chronica Albeldense says that this Fafila was a dux of Gallaecia who was killed by Wittiza 2 The Chronicle of Alfonso III identifies Pelagius as a grandson of Chindasuinth and says that his father was blinded in Cordoba at the instigation of Wittiza 3 Wittiza is also said to have exiled Pelagius from Toledo upon assuming the crown in 702 In the opinion of Roger Collins this is a late tradition and the account of the Albeldense which locates Pelagius origins in the north of the peninsula is more credible Both chronicles agree however that he was a Visigoth who was exiled from Toledo by Wittiza 3 According to the later tradition Munuza the Berber governor of Iegione either Gijon or Leon became attracted to Pelagius sister and sent word to Tariq ibn Ziyad who ordered him to capture Pelagius and send him to Cordoba 4 If Munuza s seat is identified with Gijon it may be inferred that the Arabs had established their rule in the Asturias and that Pelagius was not the leader of a local resistance to Arab conquest 5 Pelagius may have come to terms with the Arab elite whereby he was permitted to govern locally in the manner of the previous Visigoths as is known to have occurred between Arab rulers and Visigothic noblemen elsewhere as in the case of Theudimer 6 although most historians consider this unlikely 7 Reign EditAt some point Pelagius is said to have rebelled but for what reasons is unknown such rebellions by local authorities against their superiors formed a common theme in Visigothic Spain A Muslim army was sent against him under the command of Alkama and the Christian bishop of Seville Oppa That Alkama was the general and that there was a bishop of Seville named Oppa among his ranks is generally accepted 4 A battle was fought near Covadonga in monte Auseva or in monte Libana in which Alkama was killed and Oppa captured 4 Moorish chronicles of the event describe Pelagius and his small force as thirty wild donkeys as reported by al Maqqari in the 17th century 8 9 The battle is usually dated to 718 or 719 between the governorships of al Hurr and as Sham though some have dated it as late as 722 and the Chronica Albeldensia dates it in the 740s nbsp Ducado de Cantabria in 739 Pelagius son of Favila Duque de Cantabria Genealogia dos Reis de Portugal 1530After his election as princeps prince principal leader of the Asturians by the local magnates in the Visigothic manner 6 Pelagius made his capital at Cangas de Onis The Chronica Rotensis says about this election 10 And he Pelagius going to his mountainous lands gathered all those who were going to council and ascended a big mountain named Asseuua He spread his orders between all the Astures who gathered in council and elected Pelagius as their princeps 11 His kingdom firstly centred on the eastern Asturias soon grew He married his daughter Ermesinda to the future king Alfonso I son of Pelagius eastern neighbour Duke Peter of Cantabria 12 Pelagius reigned for eighteen or nineteen years until his death in 737 when he was succeeded by his son Fafila 13 He was buried in the church of Santa Eulalia de Abamia located in the surroundings of the village of Corao near Cangas de Onis His remains were transferred by King Alfonso X of Castile to the Holy Cave of Covadonga as were those of his wife Gaudiosa and his sister He left in addition to his son and successor Fafila a daughter Ermesinda who was to become progenitress along with King Alfonso I of Asturias Alfonso the Catholic of the later royalty of Asturias Historiography Edit nbsp Imaginary portrait by Luis de Madrazo The chief sources for Pelagius s life and career are two Latin chronicles written in the late ninth century in the kingdom he founded The first is the Chronica Albeldensia written at Albelda towards 881 and preserved in the Codex Vigilanus with a continuation to 976 14 The latter is the Chronicle of Alfonso III which was revised in the early tenth century and preserved in two textual traditions that diverge in several key passages 14 the Chronica Rotensis preserved in the Codice de Roda 11 and the Chronica ad Sebastianum 15 supposedly written by Sebastian Bishop of Salamanca 910 913 16 The only likely earlier written sources from which these chroniclers could derive information are regnal lists 2 Notes Edit Collins 1989 p 147 Reilly 1993 pp 75 76 Deyermond 1985 p 346 Hillgarth 2009 p 66 n 28 a b Collins 1989 p 143 a b Collins 1989 p 144 a b c Collins 1989 p 145 Collins 1989 p 148 a b Collins 1989 p 149 Reilly 1993 p 397 Extract from C Sanchez Albornoz and M Antuna s Fuentes de la historia hispano musulmana del siglo VIII featuring a translation of an excerpt from Al Maqqari s Nafh al Tib Archived 2007 06 10 at the Wayback Machine in the on line Biblioteca Cervantes Spanish al Maqqari 1843 p 261 Garcia Villada 1918 pp 109 110 a b Gil Fernandez Moralejo amp Ruiz de la Pena 1985 Editionis Rotensis pp 114 149 in Latin Collins 2012 p 64 Collins 1989 p 150 a b Collins 1989 p 142 Gil Fernandez Moralejo amp Ruiz de la Pena 1985 Editionis ad Sebastianum pp 114 149 in Latin Sebastian Bishop of Salamanca fl 910 913 Library of Congress Authorities Library of Congress References Edital Maqqari Ahmed Mohammed 1843 De Gayangos Pascual ed The History Of The Mohammedan Dynasties In Spain Vol II W H Allen And Company Castillo Alvarez Arcadio del Montenegro Valentin Julia 1992 Don Pelayo y los origenes de la Reconquista Revista Espanola de Historia in Spanish 52 180 5 32 ISSN 0018 2141 Castillo Alvarez Arcadio del Montenegro Valentin Julia 1995 De Nuevo sobre Don Pelayo y los origenes de la Reconquista Historia Antigua Espacio Tiempo y Forma in Spanish 8 507 520 ISSN 1130 1082 Archived from the original on 2011 08 15 Collins Roger 2012 Caliphs and Kings Spain 796 1031 A History of Spain Vol 16 John Wiley amp Sons p 64 ISBN 978 1 118 27399 9 Retrieved 30 June 2012 Collins Roger 1989 The Arab Conquest of Spain 710 797 Oxford Blackwell Publishing ISBN 0 631 15923 1 Deyermond Alan 1985 The Death and Rebirth of Visigothic Spain in the Estoria de Espana Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispanicos 9 3 345 67 Garcia Villada Zacarias ed 1918 Rotensis Cronica de Alfonso III in Spanish and Latin Madrid Sucesores de Rivadeneyra pp 99 132 Retrieved 1 July 2012 Gil Fernandez Juan Moralejo Jose L Ruiz de la Pena Juan Ignacio 1985 Cronicas Asturianas in Spanish Universidad de Oviedo pp 194 222 ISBN 978 84 600 4405 5 Retrieved 30 June 2012 Goode Pauline L 1927 Covadonga Su Historia y su Leyenda Hispania 10 3 160 166 doi 10 2307 331236 ISSN 0018 2133 JSTOR 331236 Hillgarth J N 2009 The Visigoths in History and Legend Toronto Pontifical Institute for Medieval Studies Reilly Bernard F 1993 The Medieval Spains Cambridge Medieval Textbooks Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 39741 3 Further readingDiaz y Diaz Manuel C 2001 Asturias en el siglo VIII La cultura literaria Oviedo Sueve External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pelayo I of Asturias Charles Morris Pelistes The Defender Of Cordova Historical Tales Spanish Philadelphia J B Lippincott Company 1898 New title King of Asturias718 737 Succeeded byFavila Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pelagius of Asturias amp oldid 1178343761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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