Sampiro
Encyclopedia
Sampiro was a Leonese
cleric, politician, and intellectual, one of the earliest chronicle
rs of post-conquest Spain
known by name. He was also the Bishop of Astorga from 1034 or 1035 until his death.
According to some sources he was born at Iglesia del Campo in the Bierzo
, near Cacabelos
, at times confused with Sorribas
because at the time it lay within the latter. According to other sources he was born at Zamora
. Further, it is uncertain whether all contemporary references to persons named Sampiro refer to the same individual or multiple ones.
As a young man Sampiro entered a monastery, either Sahagún
or San Miguel de Camarzana. Later he fled to Zamora in light of raids from Muslim territory
, and eventually found himself in the royal court at León. He served as a notary
to Vermudo II (984–999) and held the highest office at court, that of majordomo, under Alfonso V
(999–1028). He was appointed bishop of Astorga round 1034.
Sampiro's chronicle was composed as a continuation of the Chronicle of Alfonso III
and as such relates events between the years 866 and 982, when it abruptly stops, though it was evidently written in the early eleventh century. It forms part of the Corpus Pelagianum, a series of histories each continuing the last stretching back to Isidore of Seville
's Historia Gothorum. A redaction of the chronicle of Sampiro was incorporated into the Historia Silense
.
Sampiro praises his master, King Vermudo, as "quite prudent [because] he confirmed the laws dictated by Wamba, ordered the opening and studying of the collection of canons
, loved mercy and justice, and tried to reprove evil and choose the good." The statement about the laws of Wamba (leges a Vambano principe conditas firmavit), otherwise unknown for his legislative action, is probably an error for Egica, who made a major revision of the Lex Visigothorum and who was held by Leonese writers of the time to have been related to Wamba. The later historian Pelayo of Oviedo, who continued Sampiro's chronicle down to his own age, replaced this laudatory section with an attack on the king, bequeathing to historiography the nickname by which Vermudo II is always known: "the Gouty" (el Gotoso).
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
cleric, politician, and intellectual, one of the earliest chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
rs of post-conquest Spain
Umayyad conquest of Hispania
The Umayyad conquest of Hispania is the initial Islamic Ummayad Caliphate's conquest, between 711 and 718, of the Christian Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania, centered in the Iberian Peninsula, which was known to them under the Arabic name al-Andalus....
known by name. He was also the Bishop of Astorga from 1034 or 1035 until his death.
According to some sources he was born at Iglesia del Campo in the Bierzo
El Bierzo
El Bierzo is a shire in the province of León, Spain. The valley has the administrative status of comarca and its capital is the town of Ponferrada. Other major towns are Bembibre and Villafranca del Bierzo, the historical capital.- History :...
, near Cacabelos
Cacabelos
Cacabelos is a village and municipality located in the region of El Bierzo . According to the 2010 census , Cacabelos has a population of 5,498 inhabitants. It is well known for its wines....
, at times confused with Sorribas
Sorribas
Sorribas is one of 28 parishes in the municipality of Grado, within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The population is 38 .-Villages and hamlets:* Las Corujas* Sorribas...
because at the time it lay within the latter. According to other sources he was born at Zamora
Zamora, Spain
Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which is some 50 km downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier...
. Further, it is uncertain whether all contemporary references to persons named Sampiro refer to the same individual or multiple ones.
As a young man Sampiro entered a monastery, either Sahagún
Sahagún
Sahagún can refer to:*Sahagún, Spain, a town and monastery in Léon, Spain. Cradle of the Mudéjar architecture*Sahagún, Córdoba, the second town in population in Córdoba Department, Colombia, also called "The Cultural City of Cordoba"People...
or San Miguel de Camarzana. Later he fled to Zamora in light of raids from Muslim territory
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
, and eventually found himself in the royal court at León. He served as a notary
Notary public
A notary public in the common law world is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business...
to Vermudo II (984–999) and held the highest office at court, that of majordomo, under Alfonso V
Alfonso V of León
Alfonso V , called the Noble, was King of León from 999 to 1028. He was the son of Bermudo II by his second wife Elvira García of Castile. The Abbot Oliva called him "Emperor of Spain"....
(999–1028). He was appointed bishop of Astorga round 1034.
Sampiro's chronicle was composed as a continuation of the Chronicle of Alfonso III
Chronicle of Alfonso III
The Chronicle of Alfonso III is a chronicle composed in the early tenth century on the order of King Alfonso III of León with the goal of showing the continuity between Visigothic Spain and the later Christian medieval Spain...
and as such relates events between the years 866 and 982, when it abruptly stops, though it was evidently written in the early eleventh century. It forms part of the Corpus Pelagianum, a series of histories each continuing the last stretching back to Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
's Historia Gothorum. A redaction of the chronicle of Sampiro was incorporated into the Historia Silense
Historia silense
The Historia silense, also called the Chronica silense or Historia seminense, is a medieval Latin narrative history of the Iberian Peninsula from the time of the Visigoths to the first years of the reign of Alfonso VI of León and Castile...
.
Sampiro praises his master, King Vermudo, as "quite prudent [because] he confirmed the laws dictated by Wamba, ordered the opening and studying of the collection of canons
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, loved mercy and justice, and tried to reprove evil and choose the good." The statement about the laws of Wamba (leges a Vambano principe conditas firmavit), otherwise unknown for his legislative action, is probably an error for Egica, who made a major revision of the Lex Visigothorum and who was held by Leonese writers of the time to have been related to Wamba. The later historian Pelayo of Oviedo, who continued Sampiro's chronicle down to his own age, replaced this laudatory section with an attack on the king, bequeathing to historiography the nickname by which Vermudo II is always known: "the Gouty" (el Gotoso).