Íñigo López
Encyclopedia
Íñigo López was the first Lord of Biscay
. Although the date is not known precisely, Íñigo's government of Biscay began between 1040 and 1043 at the latest. It was certainly by appointment of the king, García Sánchez III of Navarre, and not a hereditary right. At some point he received the rank of count
(comes in Latin) and the style "by the grace of God
" (gratia Dei).
Íñigo's origins are obscure, but he may have been a son of Lope Velázquez de Ayala, a lord in Álava
, Cantabria
and nearby parts of Biscay. He married Toda Ortiz (Fortúnez), probably a daughter of Fortún Sánchez, the godfather of García Sánchez. His father-in-law and García Sánchez both died in the Battle of Atapuerca
in 1054 and Íñigo may have succeeded the former as tenente (lord "holding" the government on behalf of the king) in Nájera
. Documents place his rule in Nájera between 1063 and 1075, often through a vicar
. Besides Biscay and Nájera, Íñigo also ruled Durango.
In 1051, when García Sánchez granted fuero
s to Biscay, he officially associated Íñigo with him in the decree, as the head of the local aristocracy (omnes milites), recognising the rights and privileges of the monasteries. Íñigo is further associated with monastic renovation by his making or confirming the donations of the churches (monasteria) of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
, Santa María de Mundaca, and Bermeo
to San Juan de la Peña
, and of Axpe de Busturia
and San Martín de Yurreta to San Millán de la Cogolla. In 1076, after the assassination of Sancho Garcés IV and the division of Navarre by the armies of his cousins, Sancho I of Aragon and Alfonso VI of León and Castile, Íñigo accepted the overlordship of the Leonese-Castilian monarch. In the surviving text of the fuero given to Nájera that year Íñigo's eldest son, Lope
, appears swearing fealty to Alfonso, but he is not recorded in documents as count in Biscay until 1079. These dates being the termini ad et post quem of his death. He is last recorded in a donation he made to San Millán on behalf of his late wife. In the donation he names as their children, beside Lope: García, Galindo, Mencía, and Sancho, who died young.
Lord of Biscay
Lord of Biscay is a historical title of the head of state of the autonomous territory of Biscay, Basque Country.- History :The first known Lord of Biscay , Íñigo López "Ezkerra" was a lieutenant of the Kingdom of Pamplona , and this was until the Castilian conquest of Gipuzkoa in 1200...
. Although the date is not known precisely, Íñigo's government of Biscay began between 1040 and 1043 at the latest. It was certainly by appointment of the king, García Sánchez III of Navarre, and not a hereditary right. At some point he received the rank of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
(comes in Latin) and the style "by the grace of God
By the Grace of God
By the Grace of God is an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch taken to be ruling by divine right, not a title in its own right....
" (gratia Dei).
Íñigo's origins are obscure, but he may have been a son of Lope Velázquez de Ayala, a lord in Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
and nearby parts of Biscay. He married Toda Ortiz (Fortúnez), probably a daughter of Fortún Sánchez, the godfather of García Sánchez. His father-in-law and García Sánchez both died in the Battle of Atapuerca
Battle of Atapuerca
The Battle of Atapuerca was fought in 1 September 1054 at the site of Piedrahita in the valley of Atapuerca between brothers King García Sánchez III, El de Nájera, of Navarre and King Ferdinand I, the Great, of Castile and León....
in 1054 and Íñigo may have succeeded the former as tenente (lord "holding" the government on behalf of the king) in Nájera
Nájera
Nájera is a small town located in the "Rioja Alta" region of La Rioja, Spain on the river Najerilla. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.-History:...
. Documents place his rule in Nájera between 1063 and 1075, often through a vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
. Besides Biscay and Nájera, Íñigo also ruled Durango.
In 1051, when García Sánchez granted fuero
Fuero
Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...
s to Biscay, he officially associated Íñigo with him in the decree, as the head of the local aristocracy (omnes milites), recognising the rights and privileges of the monasteries. Íñigo is further associated with monastic renovation by his making or confirming the donations of the churches (monasteria) of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Gaztelugatxe is a tiny island on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo, in Basque Country . It is connected to the mainland by a man made bridge...
, Santa María de Mundaca, and Bermeo
Bermeo
Bermeo is a town and municipality in the sub-region of Busturialdea and the wider province of Biscay, part of the autonomous region of the Basque Country, in Northern Spain. Bermeo has 17,026 inhabitants and is the most important fishing port of the Basque Country. The town was founded in 1236 and...
to San Juan de la Peña
San Juan de la Peña
The monastery of San Juan de la Peña is a religious complex in the town of Santa Cruz de la Serós, at the south-west of Jaca, in the province of Huesca, Spain. It was one of the most important monasteries in Aragon in the Middle Ages. Its two-level church is partially carved in the stone of the...
, and of Axpe de Busturia
Busturia
Busturia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
and San Martín de Yurreta to San Millán de la Cogolla. In 1076, after the assassination of Sancho Garcés IV and the division of Navarre by the armies of his cousins, Sancho I of Aragon and Alfonso VI of León and Castile, Íñigo accepted the overlordship of the Leonese-Castilian monarch. In the surviving text of the fuero given to Nájera that year Íñigo's eldest son, Lope
Lope Íñiguez
Lope Íñiguez succeeded his father Íñigo López to become the second Lord of Biscay in 1076.Íñigo died shortly after the assassination of his overlord Sancho IV of Navarre and the subsequent takeover of Biscay, Álava, part of Guipúzcoa and La Rioja by Alfonso VI of Castile...
, appears swearing fealty to Alfonso, but he is not recorded in documents as count in Biscay until 1079. These dates being the termini ad et post quem of his death. He is last recorded in a donation he made to San Millán on behalf of his late wife. In the donation he names as their children, beside Lope: García, Galindo, Mencía, and Sancho, who died young.
External links
- There are two (http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NAVARRE%20NOBILITY.htm#InigoLopezdied1077http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/VIZCAYA.htm#InigoLopezdied1077) brief genealogical entries at the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy's Medieval Lands Project website.