Ava of Cerdanya facts for kids
Ava of Cerdanya (died 961) was an important countess who lived a long time ago. She was married to Miró II of Cerdanya, who was the Count of Cerdanya and Besalú. After her husband passed away, Ava became a ruler herself. She acted as a regent, meaning she governed the lands for her young sons, from 927 until 941.
Ava's Life and Rule
We don't know for sure where Ava of Cerdanya came from. Around the year 900, she married Count Miró II of Cerdanya and Besalú. They had four sons and one daughter. All her sons later became counts, just like their father. Their children were:
- Sunifred II of Cerdanya (born 915, died 968), who became the count of Cerdanya and count of Besalú
- Wilfred II of Besalú (died 957), who became the count of Besalú
- Miró III of Cerdanya (born 920, died 984), who became the count of Cerdanya and Besalú, and also a bishop of Girona
- Oliba Cabreta (born 920, died 990), who became the count of Cerdanya, Besalú, and count of Ripoll
- Fredeburga of Cerdanya, who became the abbess (leader) of the Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses
Governing the Counties
When her husband died in 927, Ava's children were still too young to rule on their own. So, Ava took charge as their regent. This meant she governed the counties of Cerdanya and Besalú.
During her time as regent, Ava faced many challenges. Some local powerful families tried to rebel. They wanted to take control of the counties. They thought that a government led by a woman and young children would be weak. But Ava worked hard to keep control and manage these rebellions.
End of Her Regency
In 941, Ava decided it was time for her sons to start ruling on their own. She gave each of them their own lands to govern. This usually meant the end of her official role as regent. After this, her name appeared less often in official government papers.
However, Ava continued to be involved in managing her late husband's wealth. According to her marriage agreement, she had the right to a part of the family's fortune for the rest of her life, as long as she remained a widow.
Ava was also known for her generosity. She made many gifts to churches and monasteries. These included places like Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa (in 941, 953, and 962), Ripoll, Elne (in 962), and Camprodon (in 944).
See also
In Spanish: Ava de Cerdaña para niños
