Otto de Bonvillano
Encyclopedia
Otto de Bonvillano was a citizen of the Republic of Genoa
and a count in the Kingdom of Castile–León
. The important source for his life and activities is Cafarus’ Ystoria captionis Almarie et Turtuose.
Otto took part in the reconquista
(Christian reconquest) of the Muslim port city of Almería
by a league of Genoa and Castile–León with their respective allies in 1147. When the Siege of Almería began in August 1147, the Castilian king, Alfonso VII the Emperor, was away campaigning against the Muslims in the region of Jaén. The Genoese delegated Otto to go to his camp and remind him of his duty to his allies:
The city fell, after the king's arrival, on 17 October and Alfonso invested the Genoese a third of the city as per their prior agreement. On 11 November the republic leased out its third for a period of thirty years to Otto, who had played such a prominent rôle in the negotiations and the conquest, who in turn swore fealty to Genoa and agreed to pay the city a small sum annually. He also swore to keep an army of three hundred in the city at all times and not to charge any tolls on traders from Liguria
. Otto is the first example of a private citizen of Genoa holding the republic's territory for it as a vassal. This was the initial, indirect way in which Genoa managed its overseas dependencies.
After the Genoese fleet sailed, taking with it the plunder to pay off the republic's war debt, Otto was left to guard the city with a thousand men, "which he did", in the words of Cafarus. The discrepancy between contemporary documents in the number of troops left with Otto, and reference to the agreement between Alfonso and Genoa of 1146, suggests that the Almería may have been ruled as a condominium
in accordance with the original agreement. In the grant to Otto, the consuls of Genoa stressed their government of the city as being both honoring to God, Christendom and Genoa:
Otto remained in Spain for several more years as governor of the Genoese quarter of Almería, and acquired territory in the region. The castle of Albuher (Villamanrique de Tajo
), acquired by Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera
from the king on 18 November 1153, was granted by him to Otto some years later. In the charter of this transaction Otto is called a count.
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
and a count in the Kingdom of Castile–León
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
. The important source for his life and activities is Cafarus’ Ystoria captionis Almarie et Turtuose.
Otto took part in the reconquista
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...
(Christian reconquest) of the Muslim port city of Almería
Almería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
by a league of Genoa and Castile–León with their respective allies in 1147. When the Siege of Almería began in August 1147, the Castilian king, Alfonso VII the Emperor, was away campaigning against the Muslims in the region of Jaén. The Genoese delegated Otto to go to his camp and remind him of his duty to his allies:
They sent Oto de Bonovillano as a legate to the Emperor who was at BaezaBaezaBaeza is a town of approximately 16,200 inhabitants in Andalusia, Spain, in the province of Jaén, perched on a cliff in the Loma de Baeza, a mountain range between the river Guadalquivir on the south and its tributary the Guadalimar on the north. It is chiefly known today as having many of the...
. The Emperor had already dismissed his army and did not have any moer than 400 knights and 1000 foot soldiers. When he heard that the Genoese fleet had arrived, the Emperor regretted that he just dismissed his army. He said he would come, but he took his time.
The city fell, after the king's arrival, on 17 October and Alfonso invested the Genoese a third of the city as per their prior agreement. On 11 November the republic leased out its third for a period of thirty years to Otto, who had played such a prominent rôle in the negotiations and the conquest, who in turn swore fealty to Genoa and agreed to pay the city a small sum annually. He also swore to keep an army of three hundred in the city at all times and not to charge any tolls on traders from Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
. Otto is the first example of a private citizen of Genoa holding the republic's territory for it as a vassal. This was the initial, indirect way in which Genoa managed its overseas dependencies.
After the Genoese fleet sailed, taking with it the plunder to pay off the republic's war debt, Otto was left to guard the city with a thousand men, "which he did", in the words of Cafarus. The discrepancy between contemporary documents in the number of troops left with Otto, and reference to the agreement between Alfonso and Genoa of 1146, suggests that the Almería may have been ruled as a condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
in accordance with the original agreement. In the grant to Otto, the consuls of Genoa stressed their government of the city as being both honoring to God, Christendom and Genoa:
The consuls have made this grant because they have captured the city of Almería for the honour of God and of all Christianity and they have determined to remain in control of the city out of the greatest necessity of Christians, and most of all because they know that it is honorable and useful to the city of Genoa.
Otto remained in Spain for several more years as governor of the Genoese quarter of Almería, and acquired territory in the region. The castle of Albuher (Villamanrique de Tajo
Villamanrique de Tajo
Villamanrique de Tajo is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
), acquired by Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera
Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera
Ponce Giraldo de Cabrera , called Ponç Guerau in Catalan, was a Catalan nobleman who came to León in the entourage of Berenguela, daughter of Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, when she married Alfonso VII of León and Castile at Saldaña in November 1127. Immediately after his arrival, Ponce...
from the king on 18 November 1153, was granted by him to Otto some years later. In the charter of this transaction Otto is called a count.