Alfonso III of Asturias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alfonso III
Miniature (c. 1118) from the archives of Oviedo Cathedral showing Alfonso III flanked by his queen, Jimena (left), and his bishop, Gomelo II (right).
King of Asturias
Reign	866–910
Predecessor	Ordoño I
Successor	Fruela II (Asturias) Ordoño II (Galicia) García I (León)
Born	c. 848
Died	20 December 910
Burial	Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo
Consort	Jimena of Pamplona
Issue	García I of León Ordoño II of León Fruela II of León
Dynasty	Astur-Leonese dynasty
Father	Ordoño I of Asturias
Mother	Nuña
Religion	Chalcedonian Christianity
Signature

Alfonso III (born around 848, died 20 December 910) was a powerful king. He was known as the Great (el Magno in Spanish). Alfonso ruled the kingdoms of León, Galicia, and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son of King Ordoño I and took over after his father. Some old writings even called him "Emperor of Spain." He was also called "Prince of all Galicia."

Life as King

Alfonso's time as king was important. He made his kingdom stronger when other rulers, like the Umayyad princes of Córdoba, were not as strong. He won many battles against the Muslims of al-Andalus.

When he first became king, he faced a challenge. A count named Fruela of Galicia tried to take his place. Alfonso had to escape to Castile. But after a few months, Fruela was killed. Alfonso then returned to his capital, Oviedo.

He stopped a rebellion by the Basque people in 867. Much later, he also put down a rebellion in Galicia. Alfonso expanded his kingdom by conquering Porto in 868 and Coimbra in 878. Around 869, he made an alliance with the Kingdom of Pamplona. He made this alliance stronger by marrying Jimena, who was likely the daughter of King García Íñiguez.

Battles and Expansion

In 867, Alfonso had to deal with an uprising in Alava, in the eastern part of his kingdom. A count named Eylo led this revolt. The king marched there, and the rebels quickly gave up. They promised to be loyal to him. King Alfonso then brought Eylo back to Oviedo as a prisoner.

Alfonso's father, Ordoño, had started to resettle lands near the border. Alfonso continued this work. His first successes were in what is now Portugal. His army pushed the border to the Mondego river. In 868, Count Vimara Perez conquered Porto and helped people move there.

In 878, Alfonso III's army, led by Count Hermenegildo Gutiérrez, fought against Muslim forces. These forces were led by Emir Mohammad I of Cordoba. They had attacked Porto. Alfonso's army defeated the emir's forces. They also made the Muslim people leave Coimbra and Porto. Christian troops then took over and repopulated other cities. These included Braga, Viseo, and Lamego. These new settlers came from Galicia. Later, Coimbra, Lamego, and Viseo were lost again in 987. They were finally taken back by King Ferdinand I of León in 1064.

Alfonso III also faced attacks from the Umayyad prince al-Mundir. Battles happened almost constantly between 875 and 883. The first attacks by al-Mundir were aimed at León and El Bierzo, but they failed. Alfonso's forces then fought back and captured Deza and Atienza.

In 878, al-Mundir sent his armies towards Leon and Astorga. Alfonso wanted to stop their armies from joining. He went to meet one of them and defeated them in the Battle of Polvoraria. Al-Mundir then retreated, but Alfonso III caught him again. He defeated him in the valley of Valdemora. This forced Mohamed I, the ruler of Cordoba, to pay a ransom and agree to a three-year peace. This was the first time Cordoba had asked for peace.

Both sides used this peace to prepare for more fighting. Mohamed built a fleet to attack Galicia, but a storm destroyed it. Alfonso and his allies then moved south and defeated the Cordovan army near the Guadiana River.

In revenge, Mohamed attacked the kingdom of Zaragoza in 882. Alfonso had sent his son Ordoño there to be educated. There was an exchange of prisoners, and the Cordovans left. They tried again in 883 with the same result. In 884, Mohamed I and Alfonso III signed a peace treaty. Both rulers were having serious problems within their own kingdoms.

Alfonso also faced a rebellion led by his own brothers, Fruela, Odoario, and Bermudo. They gathered strength in Astorga with support from some counts. But Alfonso quickly defeated and punished them. In 901, a rebel named Ibn al-Qitt attacked Zamora. Zamora was an important city on the border. The city was able to defend itself. The rebel leader was defeated and killed in battle on what is known as the Day of Zamora. During these years, the kingdom of Cordoba had many internal problems. This meant they stopped bothering the kingdom of Asturias.

Alfonso also fought against his former allies in Mérida and the Ebro valley. He worked with the Count of Pallars to overthrow the Banu Qasi family. He helped put a new ruler, Sancho Garcés I, on the throne of Pamplona.

Alfonso ordered three historical books to be written. These books said that the kingdom of Asturias was the true heir to the old Visigothic kingdom. Alfonso also supported art and building, like his grandfather. He built the church of Santo Adriano.

In 909, Alfonso moved his government to Oviedo. His sons, including García, Ordoño, and Fruela, were involved in a plot against him. Alfonso had García put in prison. But the plotters freed him, and he escaped. However, Alfonso later convinced García to join him in a campaign against the Moors. Alfonso died in Zamora in 910, after ruling for 44 years.

After his death, the kingdom was divided among his sons. His oldest son, García, became king of León. His second son, Ordoño, ruled Galicia. Fruela received Asturias, with Oviedo as its capital. These lands would later be reunited. When García died without children, León went to Ordoño. When Ordoño died, all the lands were reunited under Fruela. However, Fruela died the next year. This led to many struggles for power for over a century.

Culture and Legacy

Alfonso III's reign was important for culture and religion:

• He held the second Oviedo Council in 893. This was an important meeting for the church.
• He ordered the creation of the Cross of Victory. This cross is now on the flag of Asturias and is a symbol of the region. Goldsmiths from the Frankish kingdom made the cross in the early 900s. It was a gift to the Cathedral of San Salvador. Today, it is kept in the Holy Chamber of the Oviedo Cathedral. A copy hangs on the bridge of Cangas de Onís.
• The discovery of the tomb of Santiago (Saint James) made Compostela a very important religious center. It became a popular place for pilgrims. These pilgrims helped spread culture and ideas.
• In terms of art, Alfonso's time saw the development of Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture. Examples include San Salvador de Valdediós, Santo Adriano de Tuñón, and the basilica of Santiago de Compostela.
• He ordered three important historical books, or chronicles, to be written. These books helped shape the history of the kingdom of Asturias. They presented it as the rightful heir to the old Visigothic kingdom:
  • The Albeldense Chronicle (around 881).
  • The Prophetic Chronicle (around 883).
  • The Chronicle of the Visigothic Kings or Chronicle of Alfonso III (around 911).

See also

In Spanish: Alfonso III de Asturias para niños