Kingdom of Viguera facts for kids
The Kingdom of Viguera (in Basque: Viguerako Erresuma) was a small kingdom that lasted for a short time. It was centered around the town of Viguera in Spain. This kingdom existed from about 970 AD until the early 11th century.
King García Sánchez I of Pamplona created it for his son, Ramiro Garcés. Ramiro became the first king of Viguera. After him, two of his sons ruled together. When the last of them died, sometime between 1005 and 1030, Viguera became part of the main Kingdom of Pamplona again.
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Where Was Viguera?
The Kingdom of Viguera was located in the southern part of the Kingdom of Pamplona. Its land included the valleys of the Iregua and Leza rivers. This area is now known as La Rioja.
Viguera was not a natural kingdom with its own unique people or land. It was created by a king. The kings of Viguera always had to obey the kings of Pamplona. After 1005, Viguera was no longer a separate kingdom. It became just a piece of land ruled by the main crown.
How Viguera Began
In 918, two kings, Ordoño II of León and Sancho I of Pamplona, attacked Viguera. They wanted to remove the Banu Qasi family from the area. By 923, the land was under their control and made stronger with forts.
From 924 until 972, a man named Fortún Galíndez ruled the land around Viguera. He was known as the Duke of Viguera.
The Kings of Viguera
King García Sánchez I of Pamplona had two families. He chose his first son, Sancho II, to inherit the Kingdom of Pamplona. But his second wife, Teresa of León, wanted her son to have land too. So, García I gave Viguera to his son with Teresa, Ramiro Garcés.
After King García I died, his son Sancho II became King of Pamplona. Sancho II agreed that his half-brother Ramiro could rule Viguera.
Ramiro Garcés
Ramiro Garcés ruled Viguera from 970 until he died in 981. He was the first king of Viguera.
Sancho Ramírez
Ramiro was followed by his son, Sancho Ramírez, in 981. Sancho Ramírez ruled until about 1002, when he died.
García Ramírez
Sancho's brother, García Ramírez, ruled alongside him for a while. García Ramírez ruled around 1002. He only had daughters and disappeared from history between 1005 and 1030. After this, Viguera was no longer a separate kingdom. It became part of the Kingdom of Pamplona once more.
List of Monarchs
- Ramiro Garcés, from 970 until his death in 981.
- Sancho Ramírez, from 981 until his death c. 1002.
- García Ramírez, around 1002.
See also
In Spanish: Reino de Viguera para niños
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