County_of_Álava
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]
County of Álava Arabako konderria Condado de Álava | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 860–c. 1200 | |||||||||||
| Status | Vassal of the Kingdom of Asturias Vassal of the Kingdom of León Vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre | ||||||||||
| Capital | Victoriacum | ||||||||||
| Government | County | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||
• Established | c. 860 | ||||||||||
• Annexation to the Kingdom of Castile | c. 1200 | ||||||||||
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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 | .jpg) | 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.
- Martínez Díez, Gonzalo (2005). El condado de Castilla (711-1038): la historia frente a la leyenda. Marcial Pons Historia, p.199. ISBN 9788495379948.
- Balparda de las Herrerías 1933–34, pp. 257 and 259.
- 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.