Rodrigo, Conde de Castilla, Conde de Álava was born in the first part of the 9th century. [1] His birth date has been estimated to about 0820 based on the estimated birth date of 840 for his son Diego Rodríguez, who donated property to the monastery of San Felices de Oca, by charter dated 15 MAR 863. [2]. The Count's name does not appear in the documentation after 18 Apr 0873 and the Najerense Chronicle records his death on 05 October 0873. [1]
Iberian Peninsula in the year 0814 |
Since he was the first Count of Castile, his birth and death place have been considered as the Kingdom of Asturias (Reino de Asturias). His parentage is not known although there is speculation that he was a close relative of Ordoño I, King of Asturias[3] (c. 825-866)[4], perhaps even his brother or brother-in-law. [3] The conjecture probably is based on a text by Ibn Idhari[5] which states that King Ordoño sent his brother in 0863 to the "castles of the country of Álava" to oppose a Muslim aceifa (warrior). It is believed, however, that the brother of the King in this instance was Count Gatón.[1] According to Fernández de Béthencourt, Rodrigo was the son of Ramiro de Asturias and his wife Urraca. [6]
Rodrigo was named Conde en Castilla in 852. [7]
The first authenticated account of Count Rodrigo is found in the "Anales Castellanos Primeros" in reference to the year 0860, recorded as a year of some of the most outstanding historical events in 9th century Castile: "the year 860 when Count Rodrigo populated Amaya and devastated Talamanca".
Iberian Peninsula in the year 910 |
The same Anales recorded how "Count Rodrigo razed Asturias" in 0866. Without further information, it is not clear if the reference is about the Asturias of Oviedo or the Asturias of Santillana; if it is the former, it would be referencing Count Rodrigo's decisive intervention to back King Alfonso III, when his father, Ordoño I, died, and the Galician nobleman Fruela Bermúdez, count of Galicia and son of Olemundo, tried to usurp the throne. [1] From that moment on, Rodrigo, Count of Castile, will be one of the main supporters of the new king, and this is demonstrated when he stifled Eylo's revolt in Álava around 0867-0868. From that moment until his death, Rodrigo was known as Count of Castile and Álava.
At his death, he was succeeded by Diego Rodríguez, Conde de Castilla (abt 0840-0885), supposed to be his son. The name of his wife is not known, although one source says she was a castellana, i.e., from Castile.[3] He was succeeded by Vela Jiménez in Álava. [8]
Preceded by New Title |
Conde de Castilla 0860-0873 |
Succeeded by Diego Rodríguez (his son) |
Preceded by Eylo (may have been Vela Jiménez) |
Conde de Álava 0867/0868-abt 0870 |
Succeeded by Vela Jiménez |
His Last Name at Birth (LNAB) of Castilla is technically incorrect because he was not appointed as Count of Castile until he was an adult. However, this Dynastic name may be the best option in terms of how he is named in other sources.
From the first half of the 9th century until the middle of the century, the Kingdom of Castile was administered and defended by the monarchs of León, due to the increased incursions from the Emirate of Córdoba. [9]
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Rodrigo is 41 degrees from Zendaya Coleman, 43 degrees from Sting Sumner, 36 degrees from Josh Brolin, 40 degrees from Timothée Chalamet, 36 degrees from José Ferrer, 36 degrees from Frank Herbert, 35 degrees from Richard Jordan, 41 degrees from David Lynch, 36 degrees from Virginia Madsen, 39 degrees from Charlotte Rampling, 42 degrees from Patrick Stewart and 36 degrees from Denis Villeneuve on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
C > Castilla | D > de Castilla > Rodrigo (Castilla) de Castilla