See also
| Husband: | Ordono I + (821-866) | |
| Wife: | Muniadona + of GASCONY AND LEON (c. 815- ) | |
| Children: | Alfonso III + (848-910) | |
| Name: | Ordono I + | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | Ramiro I + (790- ) | |
| Mother: | Paterna Sna + of CASTILE AND LEON (795- ) | |
| Birth | 0821 | Oviedo, Spain |
| Occupation | King of Asturias | |
| Title | frm 0850 to 0866 (age 28-45) | King of Asturias |
| Death | 27 May 0866 (age 44-45) | Oviedo, Spain |
| Name: | Muniadona + of GASCONY AND LEON | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 0815 (est) | |
| Name: | Alfonso III +1 | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Nickname: | Alfonso the Great | |
| Spouse: | Jimena + (855- ) | |
| Birth | 0848 | |
| Occupation | King of Leon, Galicia, and Asturias | |
| Title | frm 0866 to 0910 (age 17-62) | King of Asturias |
| Title | frm 0866 to 0910 (age 17-62) | King of Leon |
| Title | frm 0866 to 0910 (age 17-62) | King of Galicia |
| Title | Emperor of Spain | |
| possibly the first person to hold this title | ||
| Title | Prince of all Galacia | |
| not an official recognized title, informal | ||
| Death | 20 Dec 0910 (age 61-62) | |
Ordoño I (821 – 27 May 866) was King of Asturias from 850 until his death.
[edit] BiographyHe was born in Oviedo, where he spent his early life in the court of Alfonso II. He was probably associated with the crown from an early age.
When just nine years old, he moved to Lugo, capital of the province of Galicia, of which his father, Ramiro, had been named governor. There he was educated, including in the military arts.
Ordoño was named governor of Galicia when his father went to Vardulia to marry Paterna (his second wife). Whilst away, Alfonso died, and Ramiro was proclaimed king. However, with Ramiro still away, the impatient nobles elected Count Nepocian in opposition. Ordoño immediately began to raise an army to assist his father in putting down the usurper. He could not leave his post in Galicia to help, however, and his army went unused. When his father finally prevailed, he confirmed Ordoño in his heretofore provisional position.
In 847, at the age of 26, Ordoño married Muniadona, probably a sister of the count of Bierzo. She bore him six children, including his successor, Alfonso III.
On January 1, 850, Ordoño succeeded his father as king. As he was his father's heir, he was the first king of Asturias to ascend the throne without election. His first confrontation was with the Basques, who rebelled with the support of the Banu Qasi of Zaragoza. While returning to Oviedo after defeating the rebels, he received news of an impending Moorish assault on Vardulias. Before the Moors could attack, he met them near the Ebro and defeated them. These victories meant little in the long run, for the governor of Zaragoza, Musa ibn Musa fortified the city of Albaida (Albelda). In 859, Ordoño defeated him at Albelda and besieged and razed the city.
He supported the mozarab rebels, which cost him at Guadacelete in 854. But this fiasco only incited him to consolidate the "Desert of the Duero", the depopulated region between the Asturian cordillera and the river Duero. He directed the repoblación of the towns of León and Talamanka,[2] Astorga, Tui, and Amaya.[3]
He intended to advance against the governor of Tudela and thus control all access to the Navarre and the Basque Country, but the Emirate of Córdoba responded with the invasion and sacking of Álava. At Bureba, the Arabs defeated Rodrigo, first count of Castile, and set back the Reconquista for years.
Ordoño died in Oviedo and was succeeded by his eldest son.
| 1 | "Encyclopedia Britanica". |