Alfonso I of Asturias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alfonso I |
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An 18th-century statue of Alfonso I, by Juan Porcel in Madrid
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| King of Asturias | |
| Reign | 739–757 |
| Coronation | 739 |
| Predecessor | Favila |
| Successor | Fruela I |
| Born | 693 Cantabria |
| Died | 757 Cangas de Onís, Asturias |
| Burial | Santa Cueva de Covadonga |
| Consort | Ermesinda |
| Issue | Fruela I of Asturias Vimarano Adosinda Mauregatus of Asturias |
| Dynasty | Astur-Leonese dynasty |
| Father | Peter of Cantabria |
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Alfonso I of Asturias, also known as the Catholic, was the third King of Asturias. He ruled from about 693 until his death in 757. During his time as king, he greatly expanded the Christian lands of Asturias, taking back areas like Galicia and León.
He became king after his brother-in-law, Favila. His son, Fruela I, became king after him. Alfonso's son, Mauregatus, also became a king later. His daughter, Adosinda, married King Silo of Asturias. The family line started by Alfonso was known as the Astur-Leonese dynasty.
Who Was King Alfonso I?
Alfonso was the son of Duke Peter of Cantabria, which meant he owned a lot of land in that region. He married Ermesinda, the daughter of Pelagius. Pelagius was famous for starting Asturias after a big battle called Battle of Covadonga, where he fought against the Moorish conquest of the area.
Alfonso became king after Favila, Pelagius's son, died too soon. It is not certain if Pelagius or Favila were called kings during their lives, but Alfonso certainly was. He began a long war against the Moors (Muslims who ruled parts of Spain).
In 740, Alfonso took advantage of a rebellion by the Berbers (a group of people) and conquered Galicia. In 754, he took over León. He even reached as far as La Rioja. However, many people living in the towns of these areas moved to his northern lands. This left an empty space between the Christian and Muslim states.
This empty area became known as the Desert of the Duero. It was a region with very few people between the Duero River and the Asturian Mountains. Alfonso wanted it this way. He hoped to create an area where any invading army would find it hard to survive. This policy had a big impact on the history of Asturias, Spain, and Portugal. It took over a hundred years for people to move back into this region. This event is known as the Repoblación.
Arab writers spoke of the kings in the northwest of Iberia as the Beni Alfons, meaning "descendants of Alfonso." They seemed to recognize them as a royal family from Galicia, coming from Alfonso I. Alfonso is also known for setting up the shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga. This was to remember his father-in-law's victory at the Battle of Covadonga. Alfonso and his queen are buried there. Their tombstone says:
- "Here lies the Catholic and Holy King Don Alfonso the First and his wife Doña Ermesinda, sister of Don Favila to whom he succeeded. This king won many victories against the Moors. He died in Cangas in the year 757. "
Alfonso's Family
Alfonso had four children. Three were with his wife, Ermesinda. One son, Mauregatus, was born to a different mother.
- Fruela I of Asturias (born 722, died 768): He became king after Alfonso (from 757 to 768).
- Vimorano: He was killed in 765 by Fruela.
- Adosinda: She became queen when she married King Silo of Asturias (who ruled from 774 to 783).
- Mauregatus of Asturias: He became king after Silo (who ruled from 783 to 789).
See also
In Spanish: Alfonso I de Asturias para niños
