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Fruela II | |
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King of Asturias | |
Reign | 910–924 |
Predecessor | Alfonso III |
Successor | Position abolished |
King of LeĆ³n | |
Reign | 924–925 |
Predecessor | OrdoƱo II |
Successor | Alfonso IV |
King of Galicia | |
Reign | 924–925 |
Predecessor | OrdoƱo II |
Successor | Alfonso FrĆ³ilaz |
Born | c. 875 |
Died | July 925 |
Consort | Nunilo Urraca bint Abd Allah |
Issue | Alfonso FrĆ³ilaz Ramiro Froilaz OrdoƱo Froilaz |
Dynasty | Astur-Leonese dynasty |
Father | Alfonso III of Asturias |
Mother | Jimena of Pamplona |
Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Fruela II (c. 874āAugust 925)was the king of Asturias from 910 to 924 and king of LeĆ³n from 924 to 925. His father was Alfonso III of Asturias and his mother was Jimena of Pamplona. In 910 Fruela and "two of his brothers deposed their father," Alfonso, "and divided the kingdom amongst themselves." Fruela, the youngest brother, took the original portion (Asturias); OrdoƱo took Galicia; and GarcĆa, the eldest, took LeĆ³n. Although Fruela called himself king of a much-diminished Asturias, evidence suggests that his role was subordinate to the king of LeĆ³n.
As king of Asturias, he had the job of consolidating the region later called Castile and keeping its counts in check.
Fruela married twice, first in 910 to Nunilo Jimena, daughter of the Navarrese king. By 917 he was married to his second wife, Urraca, the daughter of the Banu Qasi governor of Tudela. From his marriages, he had at least three sons, Alfonso, Ramiro and OrdoƱo, none of whom would inherit the throne.
Fruela maintained good relations with his brother OrdoƱo, who had the hegemony. They cooperated in the Reconquista, and Fruela undersigned OrdoƱo's diplomas as Froila frater confirmat (Frela the brother confirms). When OrdoƱo died in 924, the magnates ignored his heirs and elected Fruela king. Fruela had never been popular with the nobles and his subjects. And his election has been doubted by some, who see it as a likely usurpation. He assassinated Gebuldo and Aresindo, sons of Olmundo, who claimed descent from King Witiza and thus further alienated the nobility. For this, one chronicler relates, he was condemned to a reign of only fourteen months. According to RamĆ³n MenĆ©ndez Pidal, he exiled the bishop Frunimio of LeĆ³n, a relation of Olmundo. Whatever the case, he reigned for only fourteen months and died of leprosy in August 925. Following Fruela's death, there were several competing claimants to his lands, including his younger brother Ramiro (who appears to have married the widowed queen Urraca bint Qasi and used the royal title. But was eventually unsuccessful) and the sons of his brother OrdoƱo II, along with his own young sons. There is some debate about the immediate succession, although eventually, his family lost out to brother OrdoƱo.
According to Bishop Pelayo, he left three sons by Nunila: Alfonso, OrdoƱo, and Ramiro. Ibn Khaldun gives OrdoƱo and Ramiro to Urraca and leaves open the possibility of other children by either wife.
Referencesā»
- Ćlvarez, CĆ©sar Ćlvarez. "Fruela II". Real Academia de la Historia (in Spanish).
- Collins, Roger (1983). Early medieval Spain: unity in diversity, 400-1000. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-22464-6.
Fruela II of Asturias Born: c. 875 Died: July 925
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Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by | King of Asturias 910ā925 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | King of LeĆ³n 924ā925 | |
King of Galicia 924ā925 |
Succeeded by |
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- ^ Ćlvarez.
- ^ Collins 1983, pp. 239ā242.