Jaun Zuria facts for kids

Jaun Zuria (which means "the White Lord" in Basque) is a legendary figure. He is said to be the very first Lord and the founder of the Lordship of Biscay. The legend says he won a big battle, the Battle of Padura, against armies from the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Asturias. He supposedly chased them away to a special tree called the Malato Tree, which then became the border of Biscay.

There are three main stories about Jaun Zuria. One was written by a Portuguese count named Pedro Barcelos. The other two were written by a historian named Lope García de Salazar. According to these legends, Jaun Zuria was born from a princess from Scotland or England. This princess was visited by a Basque god named Sugaar in the village of Mundaka.

Some people think that Jaun Zuria might be the same legendary person as Olaf the White. Olaf was a Viking sea-king from Ireland who lived in the 800s.

Stories About Jaun Zuria

The Bienandanzas e Fortunas Story

The Basque historian Lope García de Salazar (who lived from 1399 to 1476) wrote about "don Çuria" in his book called Bienandanzas e Fortunas. He started writing this book in 1471.

He tells a story about a princess from Scotland. She arrived by ship in Mundaka and gave birth to a son there. Later, the mother and son moved to Busturia, where the boy grew up. When the son was 22 years old, the people of Biscay chose him to lead their army. They needed to stop the army of a prince from the Kingdom of Asturias.

The Asturian prince had a rule: he would only fight if the opposing captain had royal blood. Because of his royal birth, the young man was chosen. He and the Biscayan army defeated the Asturian prince and his army in Arrigorriaga. This battle is known as the Battle of Padura or Arrigorriaga. After this victory, the people of Biscay chose him to be their first Lord of Biscay. They also made him Lord of Durangaldea. They gave him the Basque name Jaun Zuria, which means "the White Lord." They called him this because of his very white skin and hair.

The Book of the Lineages Story

The Portuguese Count of Barcelos, Pedro Alfonso, wrote a similar story in his book called Libro dos Linhagems ("Book of the Lineages").

He said that Biscay was a Lordship even before Castile had kings. But for a long time, Biscay did not have a lord. An Asturian count named don Moñino found out about this. He forced the people of Biscay to give him a cow, an ox, and a white horse as a tribute every year.

Soon after, a brother of the king of England arrived by ship. His name was From. He came with one of his sons, named Fortun Froes. They settled in the village of Busturia. When From heard about the tribute, he promised to protect the people of Biscay. In return, they had to call him their Lord. The Asturian count then fought against From and the Biscayans. The count was defeated near Arrigorriaga. After From passed away, his son Fortun Froes became the Lord of Biscay.

See also

• Lordship of Biscay
• Basque mythology
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