Sancho IV Garcés of Gascony
Encyclopedia
Sancho IV Garcés was the Duke of Gascony
from 930
to his own death in 950 or 955. During his tenure, Gascony shrank considerably as his brothers inherited important regions and the de facto and perhaps de jure independent duchy slipped into historical near-oblivion.
He is mentioned in the cartulary of Auch
, as a son of García Sánchez, and the Codex of Roda
, which mentions him as the heir of Gascony. On his father's death, he inherited the duchy itself, which included the viscounties of Lomagen, Gavarret, Tursan
, and Bruillois. His younger brothers, William and Arnold
, inherited Fézensac (including Armagnac
) and Astarac
respectively with the comital title. Thus was Gascony divided and diminished.
In 932
, Flodoard
records that the brothers Ermengol of Rouergue
and Raymond Pons of Toulouse
, Princes of Gothia, brought a "Lupus Aznar Vasco" with them to do homage to Rudolph of France
. Lewis considers this "Vasco" to be the duke of Gascony and calls him "Sánchez." The duke meant, however, would be Sancho.
Sancho had two illegitimate sons, Sancho, who later succeeded him, and William, who likewise succeeded his childless brother. A third son was Gombald
, a noted pluralist bishop, who held the various sees of Gascony as one until being reappointed to the long-vacant archdiocese of Bordeaux. A fourth son Udalrich or Odulric is attested in charters; probably all were bastards.
Duke of Gascony
The Duchy of Vasconia , later known as Gascony, was a Merovingian creation: a frontier duchy on the Garonne, in the border with the rebel Basque tribes...
from 930
930
Year 930 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* With the establishment of the Althing, now one of the world's oldest parliaments, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded....
to his own death in 950 or 955. During his tenure, Gascony shrank considerably as his brothers inherited important regions and the de facto and perhaps de jure independent duchy slipped into historical near-oblivion.
He is mentioned in the cartulary of Auch
Auch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
, as a son of García Sánchez, and the Codex of Roda
Roda Codex
The Roda Codex is a medieval manuscript which represents a unique source for details of the 9th century Kingdom of Navarre and neighbouring principalities, now Madrid, Real Academia de la Historia, cód...
, which mentions him as the heir of Gascony. On his father's death, he inherited the duchy itself, which included the viscounties of Lomagen, Gavarret, Tursan
Tursan
Tursan is a Vin délimité de qualité supérieure for wine in South West France since 1958 .-Presentation:...
, and Bruillois. His younger brothers, William and Arnold
Arnold I of Astarac
Arnold I García was the first Count of Astarac from 926.Arnold was the youngest son of García II Sánchez of Gascony and Amuna. When García died, his duchy was divided between his heirs. The eldest Sancho inherited Gascony itself, while the second, William, inherited Fézensac...
, inherited Fézensac (including Armagnac
Armagnac (region)
The hilly countship of Armagnac , in the foothills of the Pyrenées between the Adour and Garonne rivers, is a historic countship of the Duchy of Gascony, established in 601 in Aquitaine...
) and Astarac
Astarac
Astarac is a region in Gascony, a county in the Middle Ages. It was formed as a county out of the partition of the Duchy of Gascony amongst his son following the death of García II Sánchez. The youngest son, Arnold I, received Astarac....
respectively with the comital title. Thus was Gascony divided and diminished.
In 932
932
Year 932 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* After an initial defeat, Mardavij took Tabaristan and Gurgan. Makan, whose attempts to recover his territories failed, entered the service of the Samanids.- Europe :* St...
, Flodoard
Flodoard
-Biography:He was born at Épernay, and educated at Reims in the cathedral school which had been established by Archbishop Fulcon .As canon of Reims, and favourite of the archbishops Herivaeus and Seulfus -Biography:He was born at Épernay, and educated at Reims in the cathedral school which had...
records that the brothers Ermengol of Rouergue
Ermengol of Rouergue
Ermengol was a son of Odo of Toulouse and Garsindis. His father gave him the County of Rouergue and Quercy in 906 and he governed it to his death...
and Raymond Pons of Toulouse
Raymond Pons of Toulouse
Raymond Pons was the Count of Toulouse from 924. He was the last head of his house to rule in Toulouse before the power passed to his cousins the counts of Rouergue....
, Princes of Gothia, brought a "Lupus Aznar Vasco" with them to do homage to Rudolph of France
Rudolph of France
Rudolph was the Duke of Burgundy between 921 and 923 and King of Western Francia from thereafter to his death. Rudolph inherited the duchy of Burgundy from his father, Richard the Justiciar...
. Lewis considers this "Vasco" to be the duke of Gascony and calls him "Sánchez." The duke meant, however, would be Sancho.
Sancho had two illegitimate sons, Sancho, who later succeeded him, and William, who likewise succeeded his childless brother. A third son was Gombald
Gombald, Archbishop of Bordeaux
Gundobald or Gombald was the Archbishop of Bordeaux from 989 to his death. He was the episcopus Gasconum, bishop of the Gascons, from 978, holding the episcopal dignity in all the Gascon sees. He was the third son of Sancho IV of Gascony and thus a brother of Sancho V and William II, successive...
, a noted pluralist bishop, who held the various sees of Gascony as one until being reappointed to the long-vacant archdiocese of Bordeaux. A fourth son Udalrich or Odulric is attested in charters; probably all were bastards.
Sources
- Lewis, Archibald R. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.
- Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Gascony.
- Monlezun, Jean Justin. Histoire de la Gascogne. 1846.
- Collins, Roger. The Basques. Blackwell Publishing: London, 1990.