Íñigo López, Lord of Biscay facts for kids

Íñigo López was a very important person in the history of a region in Spain called Biscay. He was the very first Lord of Biscay, which means he was the main ruler there. We don't know the exact year he started, but it was sometime between 1040 and 1043.

Íñigo didn't become Lord of Biscay because his family had always ruled it. Instead, the king at the time, García Sánchez III of Navarre, chose him for the job. This shows that he was trusted by the king.

Over time, Íñigo's power grew. He became a "count," which was a high-ranking title, sometime in the 1040s. Later in his life, he started using a special phrase in official papers: "by the grace of God." This meant he believed his right to rule came from God, not just from the king. This was a big deal because it suggested he had a stronger, more independent claim to his power.

Early Life and Family Connections

We don't know much about where Íñigo López came from. Some historians think his father might have been Lope Velázquez de Ayala, who was a lord in nearby areas like Álava and Cantabria.

Íñigo married a woman named Toda Ortiz. She was probably the daughter of Fortún Sánchez, who was a very close friend and even the godfather of King García Sánchez. This marriage would have given Íñigo strong connections to the royal family.

In 1054, both Íñigo's father-in-law, Fortún Sánchez, and King García Sánchez died in a battle called the Battle of Atapuerca. After this, Íñigo might have taken over as the "tenente" (a lord who governs a territory for the king) in a place called Nájera. He ruled Nájera between 1063 and 1075, often through a helper called a "vicar." Besides Biscay and Nájera, Íñigo also ruled Durango.

Important Roles and Laws

Íñigo López was very involved in the laws and religious life of his time. In 1051, King García Sánchez gave special laws, called "fueros," to Biscay. These laws were like a set of rules and rights for the people. Íñigo was officially part of this decree, showing he was the leader of the local nobles. He also helped make sure that monasteries had their rights and special benefits.

Íñigo also helped with the rebuilding and support of churches and monasteries. He either made or confirmed gifts of churches like San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Santa María de Mundaca, and Bermeo to a big monastery called San Juan de la Peña. He also gave churches like Axpe de Busturia and San Martín de Yurreta to another important monastery, San Millán de la Cogolla.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1076, something big happened: King Sancho Garcés IV was killed. After this, his cousins, Sancho I of Aragon and Alfonso VI of León and Castile, divided up the kingdom of Navarre. Íñigo López decided to accept the rule of Alfonso VI, the king of León and Castile.

In a document from that year about the laws given to Nájera, Íñigo's oldest son, Lope Íñiguez, promised loyalty to King Alfonso. However, Lope isn't officially recorded as the count in Biscay until 1079. This means Íñigo López likely died sometime between 1076 and 1079.

The last time Íñigo is mentioned in a document is when he made a gift to the San Millán monastery in honor of his late wife. In that document, he named his children: Lope, García, Galindo, Mencía, and Sancho, who sadly died young.

See also

In Spanish: Íñigo López, señor de Vizcaya para niños