Íñigo Navarro
Encyclopedia
Íñigo Navarro was the Bishop of Coria from 1142 to 1151 and thereafter the Bishop of Salamanca until his death.
The main source for his early life is a single document from Segovia dated 1148. From this it is known that he held the title of magister
and was an Augustinian canon at Segovia
before he was a bishop. He probably hailed from Navarre
, as did many of the repobladores
of the region of Segovia and Ávila. At some point, "willing to lead a stricter life", he founded a religious community at Párraces, probably composed of fellow Augustinians.
There had been no bishop at Coria since 902 when, after re-conquering
the city in June 1142 Alfonso VII of León re-established the diocese and appointed a bishop. Navarro was referred to as novo ordinato (newly ordained) in a royal document issued 30 August. The Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris, in relating the conquest of Coria, notes that "a church was dedicated there in honor of Saint Mary and all the saints [and] they consecrated as bishop a pious man whose name was Navarro" (II, §161). A document of 3 October lists the properties to be given to the new diocese.
Navarro appears to have passed most of his episcopate in his diocese, perhaps because the state of affairs required constant attendance, and so he is an obscure figure, confirming only five known royal documents during his time ruling the see of Coria, which was then the newest and poorest diocese in the kingdom. In 1148 Navarro attended the Council of Reims and afterwards remained with the Curia romana for some time. Pope Eugenius III wrote a letter to Alfonso VII explaining the arrangement: "We wish it be made known that we have led the bishop of Coria to stay with us, because at that time the church to which he is commissioned had been pressed into grave poverty, as we believe, and he cannot there exercise his office usefully, because then we trust that your munificence to him should honourably provide the necessities." In 1151 Navarro was transferred to the greater and richer diocese of Salamanca, closer to the centre of the kingdom, perhaps an indication of royal favour, to replace the deceased bishop Berengar.
The period of the episcopates of Berengar and Navarro at Salamanca (c.1140 to c.1160) was characterised by economic growth in the town and its region, as well as the growth in population of Salamanca
itself, although the bishops themselves remain generally obscure players in these events. It was at that time the most successful of the areas of new settlement, and Navarro was praised by the king for his work in this regard. On 30 April 1154, Alfonso VII granted Navarro rights over those churches he had built near the new town of Castronuño
. The charter records that the bishop and his archdeacon, Ciprián, had given help (adiutorium) to the founder and namesake of the settlement, Nuño Pérez de Lara
, and had outfitted the new churches with liturgical books and vestments. By the time of Navarro's successor, Ordoño, the schools of Salamanca were attracting students from France, laying the groundwork for Spain's first university, the Universidad de Salamanca, a half century later.
The main source for his early life is a single document from Segovia dated 1148. From this it is known that he held the title of magister
Magister
Magister is Latin for "master" or "teacher." It may refer to:* The Magister , an academic degreePositions or titles* A magister equitum, or Master of the Horse...
and was an Augustinian canon at Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
before he was a bishop. He probably hailed from 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....
, as did many of the repobladores
Repoblación
The Repoblación was the ninth-century repopulating of a large region between the River Duero and the Cantabrian Cordillera which had been depopulated in the early years of the Reconquista....
of the region of Segovia and Ávila. At some point, "willing to lead a stricter life", he founded a religious community at Párraces, probably composed of fellow Augustinians.
There had been no bishop at Coria since 902 when, after re-conquering
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
the city in June 1142 Alfonso VII of León re-established the diocese and appointed a bishop. Navarro was referred to as novo ordinato (newly ordained) in a royal document issued 30 August. The Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris, in relating the conquest of Coria, notes that "a church was dedicated there in honor of Saint Mary and all the saints [and] they consecrated as bishop a pious man whose name was Navarro" (II, §161). A document of 3 October lists the properties to be given to the new diocese.
Navarro appears to have passed most of his episcopate in his diocese, perhaps because the state of affairs required constant attendance, and so he is an obscure figure, confirming only five known royal documents during his time ruling the see of Coria, which was then the newest and poorest diocese in the kingdom. In 1148 Navarro attended the Council of Reims and afterwards remained with the Curia romana for some time. Pope Eugenius III wrote a letter to Alfonso VII explaining the arrangement: "We wish it be made known that we have led the bishop of Coria to stay with us, because at that time the church to which he is commissioned had been pressed into grave poverty, as we believe, and he cannot there exercise his office usefully, because then we trust that your munificence to him should honourably provide the necessities." In 1151 Navarro was transferred to the greater and richer diocese of Salamanca, closer to the centre of the kingdom, perhaps an indication of royal favour, to replace the deceased bishop Berengar.
The period of the episcopates of Berengar and Navarro at Salamanca (c.1140 to c.1160) was characterised by economic growth in the town and its region, as well as the growth in population of Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
itself, although the bishops themselves remain generally obscure players in these events. It was at that time the most successful of the areas of new settlement, and Navarro was praised by the king for his work in this regard. On 30 April 1154, Alfonso VII granted Navarro rights over those churches he had built near the new town of Castronuño
Castronuño
Castronuño is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,049 inhabitants....
. The charter records that the bishop and his archdeacon, Ciprián, had given help (adiutorium) to the founder and namesake of the settlement, Nuño Pérez de Lara
Nuño Pérez de Lara
Nuño Pérez de Lara was a Castilian nobleman, politician and military leader. He began his career at the court of the Emperor Alfonso VII, during whose reign he took part in the repoblación of the Extremadura and the defence of the Almohad frontier...
, and had outfitted the new churches with liturgical books and vestments. By the time of Navarro's successor, Ordoño, the schools of Salamanca were attracting students from France, laying the groundwork for Spain's first university, the Universidad de Salamanca, a half century later.
Primary sources
- Glenn Edward Lipskey, ed. 1972. The Chronicle of Alfonso the Emperor: A Translation of the Chronica Adefonsi imperatoris. PhD dissertation, Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.