Fernando Ansúrez II
Encyclopedia
Fernando Ansúrez II was the Count of Monzón, Peñafiel
, and Campos
from 950 and one of the most powerful noblemen of his generation in the Kingdom of León
. He was the eldest son of Ansur Fernández
and namesake of his grandfather, Fernando Ansúrez I
. His sister Teresa was the queen of Sancho I
and later regent for her son, Ramiro III
.
Fernando had six brothers (Oveco, Gonzalo, Osorio, Muño, Gutier and Nuño) at the time of his first appearance in contemproary records (943), but shortly after being appointed to the county of Monzón (951) only two, Gonzalo and Muño, were still living, and they were recorded as counts along with him. The first record of Fernando as count is his confirmation of a diploma of 17 June 950, where he signs as Fredinandus Assurez comes. Fernando probably succeeded his father, with royal approval, but there is a lapse in the documentation concerning the county of Monzón between 947 and 950.
, received six separate Christian embassies in his palace of al-Zahra. The second to last embassy he received was led by a certain Esimeno (Jimeno) and his companion Elgas, sent by Fernando Ansúrez. On 24 June 974 al-Hakam received four more Christian embassies in a single day. The first ambassador, Guitart, came bearing a letter from Borrell Súñer, the Count of Barcelona, making submission anew and requesting a renewal of the existing treaty between the Caliphate and the County. The second came from Emperor Otto II, called "king of the Franks" by al-Razi
. His ambassador was a count named Asraka Ibn Umar Dawud, who sought renewed guarantees of friendship. The third embassy, led by a bishop of "Y.r.n.s." (perhaps Iruña) and Nuño González, was seeking the extension of a treaty whose terms were coming to an end for Castile. The final embassy of the day came from Fernando Ansúrez and sought the prolongation of peaceful relations. All were received with hospitality.
Fernando also sent embassies to Córdoba in October 971. On 23 September 973 al-Hakam received ambassadors from the Kingdom of Navarre
, Fernando Ansúrez, the Beni Gómez clan, and Rodrigo Velázquez
. The Caliph bestowed on them gifts in exchange for reports from the ones who sent them.
by which he donated the villages of Tello Barba, Coresce, Sarracino, and Gallegos to the monastery of Sahagún
, boasted that his father had remained always faithful to his monarch, Ramiro II, and had served him with valour in a thousand battles.
At the time of his death Fernando had no living sons. He was succeeded by his sister Teresa and her son, Ramiro III, as recorded during the reign of Sancho III of Navarre
: transitus est illo comite Ferdinando Anxurez; venit sua germana domina Tarassia et rex Ramiro, qui erat in Legione, venit a Monteson ("this count Fernando Ansúrez passed away; his sister Lady Teresa came and king Ramiro, who was in León, came to Monzón"). This is notice is preserved in the abbey of Husillos
, to which Teresa and her son granted the villages of San Julián and Abandella for the sake of Fernando's soul. Also on account of Fernando's childlessness, his widow, Toda, was allowed to rule Dueñas
in the county of Monzón. In 980 she was referred to as domna Tota cometissa iudicante ciui Domnas ("the countess Doña Toda judging in the city of Dueñas").
A document from Husillos during the reign of Sancho García of Castile, who was also count of Monzón, stressed that he "came after" Fernando Ansúrez, though two counts intervened (Ramiro III and García Fernández).
Peñafiel
Peñafiel is a town in Valladolid Province, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain, best known for the Peñafiel Castle and for its medieval square used for bullfights and named "Plaza del Coso"...
, and Campos
Tierra de Campos
Tierra de Campos is a large historical region or greater comarca that straddles the provinces of León, Zamora, Valladolid and Palencia, in Castile and León, Spain...
from 950 and one of the most powerful noblemen of his generation in the Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
. He was the eldest son of Ansur Fernández
Ansur Fernández
Ansur, Assur, or Asur Fernández was a powerful Castilian nobleman and military leader in the Kingdom of León during the reign of Ramiro II. He was the first Count of Monzón, probably from before 939, certainly by 943, and he was Count of Castile in 943–45 in opposition to the deposed Fernán González...
and namesake of his grandfather, Fernando Ansúrez I
Fernando Ansúrez I
Fernando Ansúrez I was the Count of Castile in 929 and the earliest known member of the Beni Ansúrez family; his father, Ansur, is known only through his patronymic...
. His sister Teresa was the queen of Sancho I
Sancho I of León
Sancho I , called the Fat, was the son of King Ramiro II of León. He succeeded his half-brother Ordoño III in 956 and reigned until his death, except for a two year interruption from 958 to 960, when Ordoño the Wicked usurped the throne...
and later regent for her son, Ramiro III
Ramiro III of León
Ramiro III , king of León , was the son of Sancho the Fat and his successor at the age of only five. During his minority, the regency was in the hands of two nuns: his aunt Elvira Ramírez of León, who took the title of queen during the minority, and his mother Teresa Ansúrez, who was put in a...
.
Fernando had six brothers (Oveco, Gonzalo, Osorio, Muño, Gutier and Nuño) at the time of his first appearance in contemproary records (943), but shortly after being appointed to the county of Monzón (951) only two, Gonzalo and Muño, were still living, and they were recorded as counts along with him. The first record of Fernando as count is his confirmation of a diploma of 17 June 950, where he signs as Fredinandus Assurez comes. Fernando probably succeeded his father, with royal approval, but there is a lapse in the documentation concerning the county of Monzón between 947 and 950.
Relations with the Caliphate
On 12 August 971, according to the al-Muqtabis, the Caliph of Córdoba, al-Hakam IIAl-Hakam II
Al-Hakam II was the second Caliph of Cordoba, in Al-Andalus , and son of Abd-ar-rahman III . He ruled from 961 to 976....
, received six separate Christian embassies in his palace of al-Zahra. The second to last embassy he received was led by a certain Esimeno (Jimeno) and his companion Elgas, sent by Fernando Ansúrez. On 24 June 974 al-Hakam received four more Christian embassies in a single day. The first ambassador, Guitart, came bearing a letter from Borrell Súñer, the Count of Barcelona, making submission anew and requesting a renewal of the existing treaty between the Caliphate and the County. The second came from Emperor Otto II, called "king of the Franks" by al-Razi
Al-Razi
Muhammad ibn Zakariyā Rāzī , known as Rhazes or Rasis after medieval Latinists, was a Persian polymath,a prominent figure in Islamic Golden Age, physician, alchemist and chemist, philosopher, and scholar....
. His ambassador was a count named Asraka Ibn Umar Dawud, who sought renewed guarantees of friendship. The third embassy, led by a bishop of "Y.r.n.s." (perhaps Iruña) and Nuño González, was seeking the extension of a treaty whose terms were coming to an end for Castile. The final embassy of the day came from Fernando Ansúrez and sought the prolongation of peaceful relations. All were received with hospitality.
Fernando also sent embassies to Córdoba in October 971. On 23 September 973 al-Hakam received ambassadors from the Kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
, Fernando Ansúrez, the Beni Gómez clan, and Rodrigo Velázquez
Rodrigo Velázquez
Rodrigo Velázquez , the son of a certain Velasco and his wife Trudilde, was an important magnate of Galicia during the reigns of Ramiro II, Ordoño III, Sancho I, and Ramiro III. He used the title dux , the highest in Galicia at the time, and he even treated diplomatically with the Caliphate of...
. The Caliph bestowed on them gifts in exchange for reports from the ones who sent them.
Death and succession
On 25 August 976 Fernando, in a charterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
by which he donated the villages of Tello Barba, Coresce, Sarracino, and Gallegos to the monastery of Sahagún
Sahagún
Sahagún can refer to:*Sahagún, Spain, a town and monastery in Léon, Spain. Cradle of the Mudéjar architecture*Sahagún, Córdoba, the second town in population in Córdoba Department, Colombia, also called "The Cultural City of Cordoba"People...
, boasted that his father had remained always faithful to his monarch, Ramiro II, and had served him with valour in a thousand battles.
At the time of his death Fernando had no living sons. He was succeeded by his sister Teresa and her son, Ramiro III, as recorded during the reign of Sancho III of Navarre
Sancho III of Navarre
Sancho III Garcés , called the Great , succeeded as a minor to the Kingdom of Navarre in 1004, and through conquest and political maneuvering increased his power, until at the time of his death in 1035 he controlled the majority of Christian Iberia, bearing the title of rex Hispaniarum...
: transitus est illo comite Ferdinando Anxurez; venit sua germana domina Tarassia et rex Ramiro, qui erat in Legione, venit a Monteson ("this count Fernando Ansúrez passed away; his sister Lady Teresa came and king Ramiro, who was in León, came to Monzón"). This is notice is preserved in the abbey of Husillos
Husillos
Husillos is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 208 inhabitants.-Town Holidays:JULY 3rd Fiesta de la Octava...
, to which Teresa and her son granted the villages of San Julián and Abandella for the sake of Fernando's soul. Also on account of Fernando's childlessness, his widow, Toda, was allowed to rule Dueñas
Dueñas
Dueñas may refer to:*Dueñas, Iloilo, Philippines*Dueñas, Palencia, Spain...
in the county of Monzón. In 980 she was referred to as domna Tota cometissa iudicante ciui Domnas ("the countess Doña Toda judging in the city of Dueñas").
A document from Husillos during the reign of Sancho García of Castile, who was also count of Monzón, stressed that he "came after" Fernando Ansúrez, though two counts intervened (Ramiro III and García Fernández).
Further reading
- Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz. Estampas de la vida en León durante el siglo X. Madrid: 1934. Translated by Simon Doubleday as "Daily Life in the Spanish Reconquest: Scenes from Tenth-Century León" (1999), and is partially available at LIBRO.