Fortún Galíndez
Encyclopedia
Fortún Galíndez was a powerful nobleman in the Kingdom of Navarre
in the tenth century. He is the only recorded Navarrese of that time to bear the title dux (duke
). He was entrusted by Sancho I
with the newly conquered
territory of the Rioja Alta around Nájera
. In 924 he held the title senior in Naiera (lord in Nájera); from 942 he was praefectus in Naiera (prefect in Nájera); and from 950 he was titled dux. He appears to have governed the Rioja with quasi-regal authority, part of a Navarrese experiment in creating a new kingdom, which would become the Kingdom of Viguera
, but did not long outlast the century's end.
Based on his patronymic
, Fortún's father must have been Galindo. From 924 to 943 Fortún used the title senior or sennor (lord, señor). He was with the royal court frequently during this period, witnessing several royal donations. On 28 October 924 Fortún witnessed the transfer of the monastery of San Pedro de Usún to the diocese of Oya. He is titled senior Fortunio Galindoyc in Nazera. On 26 June 933 Fortuni Galendonis witnessed a royal donation of property to the Riojan monastery of San Martín de Albelda
. His last appearance with the title of sennor is a royal charter for San Millán de la Cogolla. When García Sánchez I and his queen Tarasia made another donation in 946, he was untitled. On 22 November 947 he witnessed a donation of García and the queen mother, Tuta
, to Albelda as Fortunio Galendo, again untitled.
Private charters of the following period sometimes refer to the "reign" of Fortún Galíndez in Nájera. One grant to Albelda is dated to the time while regnante Garsea Sancionis in Pampilona, Fortuni Galindonis in Nagera ("García Sánchez [was] reigning in Pamplona, Fortún Galíndez in Nájera"). On 15 April 958 a certain Muza and his sister Tota made a donation to Albelda while regnante [...] rex Garcia Sanciz in Pampilona, et sub eius Fortun Galindonis in Nagera ("king García Sánchez [was] reigning in Pamplona, and under him Fortún Galíndez in Néjera").
During the 950s Fortún makes frequent appearances with the ducal title. In one charter of 956 he is even referred to as Fertunius dux et abba ("duke and abbot"), though no other record exists for his holding an abbacy
. It is possible that not all the Fortún's are the same person, though only one Fortún Galíndez is clearly identifiable in mid-tenth-century Navarre. Duke Fortún (Furtunius dux) was frequently associated with the monastery of San Millán, signing their charters on 2 September 952, in 955, and on 5 September 957. He is specified in two late charters of San Millán, from 971 and 14 July 972 as Fortunio / Furtunio Galindonis dux.
On 10 December 970, in one of his last acts, Fortún witnessed a donation to San Millán by the royal family, Sancho II
, Ramiro Garcés
, now King of Viguera, and Urraca of Castile
, Sancho's queen. He was untitled. The last record of Fortún Galíndez (Furtunio Galindonis) is in two charters (13 and 30 November 972) belonging to the monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera. He probably died shortly after the last charter, at an advanced age.
Sometime after 930 Fortún married the twice-widowed Velasquita Sánchez, daughter of Sancho I.
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....
in the tenth century. He is the only recorded Navarrese of that time to bear the title dux (duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
). He was entrusted by Sancho I
Sancho I of Pamplona
Sancho I Garcés was king of Pamplona from 905 to 925. He was a son of García Jiménez, who was king of "another part of the kingdom" of Pamplona and Dadildis de Pallars, his second wife...
with the newly conquered
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...
territory of the Rioja Alta around 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:...
. In 924 he held the title senior in Naiera (lord in Nájera); from 942 he was praefectus in Naiera (prefect in Nájera); and from 950 he was titled dux. He appears to have governed the Rioja with quasi-regal authority, part of a Navarrese experiment in creating a new kingdom, which would become the Kingdom of Viguera
Kingdom of Viguera
The Kingdom of Viguera was a short-lived pocket kingdom around the Navarrese town of Viguera from 970 to 1005. It is said to have been created by the testament of García Sánchez I of Pamplona for his second son, Ramiro Garcés, and comprised the region today called La Rioja...
, but did not long outlast the century's end.
Based on his patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
, Fortún's father must have been Galindo. From 924 to 943 Fortún used the title senior or sennor (lord, señor). He was with the royal court frequently during this period, witnessing several royal donations. On 28 October 924 Fortún witnessed the transfer of the monastery of San Pedro de Usún to the diocese of Oya. He is titled senior Fortunio Galindoyc in Nazera. On 26 June 933 Fortuni Galendonis witnessed a royal donation of property to the Riojan monastery of San Martín de Albelda
San Martín de Albelda
San Martín de Albelda was a Riojan monastery, whose ruins now lie within the municipal boundaries of Albelda de Iregua. It was an important and advanced cultural centre in Spain and western Europe during the tenth century....
. His last appearance with the title of sennor is a royal charter for San Millán de la Cogolla. When García Sánchez I and his queen Tarasia made another donation in 946, he was untitled. On 22 November 947 he witnessed a donation of García and the queen mother, Tuta
Toda of Navarre
Toda Aznárez, also Teuda de Larraun or Tota , was the queen-consort of Pamplona through her marriage to Sancho I, who reigned 905–925, and was regent of Pamplona, 931–934...
, to Albelda as Fortunio Galendo, again untitled.
Private charters of the following period sometimes refer to the "reign" of Fortún Galíndez in Nájera. One grant to Albelda is dated to the time while regnante Garsea Sancionis in Pampilona, Fortuni Galindonis in Nagera ("García Sánchez [was] reigning in Pamplona, Fortún Galíndez in Nájera"). On 15 April 958 a certain Muza and his sister Tota made a donation to Albelda while regnante [...] rex Garcia Sanciz in Pampilona, et sub eius Fortun Galindonis in Nagera ("king García Sánchez [was] reigning in Pamplona, and under him Fortún Galíndez in Néjera").
During the 950s Fortún makes frequent appearances with the ducal title. In one charter of 956 he is even referred to as Fertunius dux et abba ("duke and abbot"), though no other record exists for his holding an abbacy
Abbacy
Abbacy may refer to:* The office of an abbot* Territorial abbacy * Prince-abbacy...
. It is possible that not all the Fortún's are the same person, though only one Fortún Galíndez is clearly identifiable in mid-tenth-century Navarre. Duke Fortún (Furtunius dux) was frequently associated with the monastery of San Millán, signing their charters on 2 September 952, in 955, and on 5 September 957. He is specified in two late charters of San Millán, from 971 and 14 July 972 as Fortunio / Furtunio Galindonis dux.
On 10 December 970, in one of his last acts, Fortún witnessed a donation to San Millán by the royal family, Sancho II
Sancho II of Pamplona
Sancho II Garcés Abarca was King of Pamplona from 970 until his death. He was the son of García Sánchez I and Andregota, daughter of Galindo Aznárez II, Count of Aragon...
, Ramiro Garcés
Ramiro Garcés of Viguera
Ramiro Garcés was the King of Viguera from 970 to his death. He was the son of García Sánchez I of Pamplona by his second wife, Theresa of León...
, now King of Viguera, and Urraca of Castile
Urraca of Castile
Urraca was Queen regnant of León, Castile, and Galicia, and claimed the imperial title as suo jure Empress of All the Spains from 1109 until her death in childbirth, as well as Empress of All Galicia.- Childhood :...
, Sancho's queen. He was untitled. The last record of Fortún Galíndez (Furtunio Galindonis) is in two charters (13 and 30 November 972) belonging to the monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera. He probably died shortly after the last charter, at an advanced age.
Sometime after 930 Fortún married the twice-widowed Velasquita Sánchez, daughter of Sancho I.
External links
- Charles Cawley. 2008. Nobility of Navarre at the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy's Medieval Lands Project.