County of Álava explained

Native Name:Arabako konderria
Condado de Álava
Conventional Long Name:County of Álava
Common Name:Álava
Era:Middle Ages
Status:Vassal
Status Text:Vassal of the Kingdom of Asturias
Vassal of the Kingdom of León
Vassal of the Kingdom of Navarre
Government Type:County
Year Start:c. 860
Event End:Annexation to the Kingdom of Castile
Year End:c. 1200
P1:Kingdom of Asturias
Flag P1:ReinoAsturias.PNG
P2:Duchy of Gascony
Flag P2:Dux_wasconum2.png
S1:Kingdom of Castile
Flag S1:Estandarte del Reino de Castilla.svg
Border S1:no
Capital:Victoriacum

The County of Álava (Basque: Arabako konderria) was one of the Basque señoríos, a feudal territory during the 9th and 13th centuries that corresponds to present-day Álava, in the Basque Country. Until the final invasion and incorporation into the Kingdom of Castile in the year 1200, the county was governed by counts vassals of the Kingdoms of Asturias, León and Navarre, being under the sphere of influence of one or the other at different times. The figure governing Alava received the title of Count of Álava.[1]

Counts of Álava

The Counts of Álava were the governing figures of the County of Álava and were, at different times, under the sphere of influence of the kingdoms of Asturias, Navarre and, ultimately, Castile.

Vassals of the Asturian monarchs

|-| Eylo
c. 868 || || || || |-| Rodrigo of Castile
Also first Count of Castile
c.860-c.870 || || Unknown || Egilona || 873|-| Vela Jiménez
Also known as Vigila Scemeniz
c.882-c.897 || || Unknown || Velasquita Sánchez
two children || Unknown|-| Gonzalo Téllez
Known as Count of Lantaron and Cerezo
c.897-c.919 || || Unknown || Flámula || 915|-| Munio Vélaz
Known as Monnio Uigilazi in Alaba
c.919 || || Unknown
Son of Vela Jiménez and Velasquita Sánchez || Velasquita
four children || 919|-| Fernando Díaz
923 || || Unknown
Son of Diego Rodríguez Porcelos || Unknown
|| Unknown|-| Álvaro Herraméliz
Known as Count of Lantaron and Álava
c929-931 || || Unknown || Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona
two children || Unknown |-| Fernán González of Castile
Also Count of Castile
932-970 || || c.910
Son of Gonzalo Fernández of Castile and Muniadona of Lara || Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona, widow of Álvaro Herrameliz
seven children || 970|-| García Fernández of Castile
Of the white hands
Also Count of Castile

970-995 || || 938
Son of Fernán González of Castile and Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona || Ava of Ribagorza
seven children || 995|-| Sancho García of Castile
Also Count of Castile
995 || || c.965
Son of García Fernández of Castile and Ava of Ribagorza || Urraca Gómez
five children || 1017|}

Vassals of the Navarrese monarchs

|-| Munio González
c.1030 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Fortún Íñiguez
c.1043 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Munio Muñoz
c.1045 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Alvaro Díaz known as Don Marcelo
c.1056 || || Unknown || Goto López || before July 1072|}

Vassals of the Castilian monarchs

|-| Lope Íñiguez
Also Lord of Biscay
c.1076 || || c.1050
Son of Íñigo López and Toda Fortunez || Ticlo Díaz
five children || 1093|-| Lope González
c.1093 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Lope Sánchez
c.1099 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Diego López
the White
Also Lord of Biscay

1093–1124 || || 1075
Son of Lope Íñiguez and Ticlo Díaz || María Sánchez
three children || 1124|-| Ladrón Íñiguez
c.1130 || || Unknown || Unknown || Unknown|-| Lope Díaz
the one from Nájera
Also Lord of Biscay

1125–1170 || || Unknown
Son of Diego López and María Sánchez || Aldonza
eleven children || 6 May 1170|-| Vela Ladrón
Vela from Navarre
Also Lord of Biscay

c.1155 || || 1115
Son of Ladrón Íñiguez || Unknown ||1173|-| Juan Vélaz
c.1174 || || Unknown
Son of Vela Ladrón || Unknown || Unknown |}

From the year 1200, the County of Álava was fully incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile and the title of Count of Álava ceased to be used.

See also

References

Works cited

Notes and References

  1. Martínez Díez, Gonzalo (2005). El condado de Castilla (711-1038): la historia frente a la leyenda. Marcial Pons Historia, p.199. .