, Alfonso Iii Of Asturias

boy silhouette
Alfonso III of Asturias
b: ABT 848
d: DEC 910
Biography
Alfonso III (c. 848 – December 910), called the Great, was the king ofLeón, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son andsuccessor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called"Emperor of Spain." He was also titled "Prince of all Galicia" (Princepstotius Galletiae[1]).

Little is known about Alfonso except the bare facts of his reign and ofhis comparative success in consolidating the kingdom during the weaknessof the Umayyad princes of Córdoba. He fought against and gained numerousvictories over the Muslims of al-Andalus, nonetheless his kingdom wasalways inferior to that of the Cordobans, and he was thus forced to paythem tribute.

He defeated a Basque rebellion in 867 and, much later, a Galician one aswell. He conquered Oporto and Coimbra in 868 and 878 respectively. Inabout 869, he formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Pamplona, andsolidified this link by marrying Jimena, who is thought to have beendaughter of king García Íñiguez, or less likely, a member of the Jiménezdynasty, and also married his sister Leodegundia to a prince of Pamplona.

He ordered the creation of three chronicles which presented the theorythat the kingdom of Asturias was the rightful successor of the oldVisigothic kingdom. He was also a patron of the arts, like hisgrandfather before him. He built the church of Santo Adriano de Tuñón.According to a letter of disputed authenticity dated to 906, the EpistolaAdefonsi Hispaniae regis, Alfonso arranged to purchase an "imperialcrown" from the cathedral of Tours.[2]

A year before his death, three of Alfonso''s sons rose in rebellion andforced him to abdicate, partitioning the kingdom among them. The eldestson, García, became king of León. The second son, Ordoño, reigned inGalicia, while the third, Fruela, received Asturias with Oviedo as hiscapital. Alfonso died in Zamora, probably in 910. His former realm wouldbe reunited when first García died childless and León passed to Ordoño.He in turn died when his children were too young to ascend, Fruela becameking of a reunited crown. His death the next year initiated a series ofinternecine struggles that led to unstable succession for over a century.
Facts
  • ABT 848 - Birth -
  • DEC 910 - Death -
  • 866 - Reign - King ; Asturias
Ancestors
   
 
   
  
  
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Alfonso III of Asturias
ABT 848 - DEC 910
  
 
  
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Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) Ordoño I of Asturias
Birth
Death
Marriageto Nuña
FatherRamiro I of Asturias
Mother?
PARENT (F) Nuña
Birth
Death
Marriageto Ordoño I of Asturias
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
MAlfonso III of Asturias
BirthABT 848
DeathDEC 910
Marriageto Jimena of Pamplona
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Alfonso III of Asturias
BirthABT 848
DeathDEC 910
Marriageto Jimena of Pamplona
FatherOrdoño I of Asturias
MotherNuña
PARENT (F) Jimena of Pamplona
Birth
Death
Marriageto Alfonso III of Asturias
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
MOrdoño II of León
Birth
Death
Marriageto Elvira Menendez
Marriageto Aragonta González
Marriageto Sancha Sánchez of Pamplona
Descendancy Chart