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Sancho I, King of Navarre

Male Abt 865 - 925  (~ 60 years)


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  • Name Sancho I  
    Suffix King of Navarre 
    Born Abt 865 
    Gender Male 
    Died 11 Dec 925 
    Notes 
    • “SANCHO García, son of GARCÍA II Jiménez King of Pamplona & his second wife Dadildis de Pallars ([865]-11 Dec 925, bur San Estebán). The Codex de Roda names "Sanzio Garseanis et Scemeno Garseanis" as the children of "Garsea Scemenonis" and his second wife "domna Dadildi de Paliares soror Regimundi comitis", one manuscript stating that Sancho was "cognomento Avarca" (confusing Sancho with his grandson of the same name), succeeded as king in 905, reigned eighteen years and died in 92424. He succeeded in 905 as SANCHO I King of Navarre, after deposing his distant cousin King Fortún García. "Sancius rex cum Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of Leire by charter dated 21 Oct [912]. He ended Navarre's long standing alliance with the Banu Qasi family: in 915, he defeated Muhammed ben Lub at Tudela, obliged him to cede the castles of Falces and Caparroso and give two of his sons as hostages. Allied with Ordoño II King of León, he conquered the Nájera disttrict to the south west around Logroño between 918 and 923, and recaptured Viguera in 923. "Sancius rex, filius Garsie regis, successor in regno germani mei Fortunii…cum domina Tuta regina uxore mea" donated property to the monastery of Leire by charter dated 18 Mar [918]. The Cronica de Sampiro records that "rex…Sancius Garsiani filius" allied himself with "regem domnum Ordonium", although this is not dated. Abd al-Rahman III Emir of Córdoba counter-attacked, recaptured Tortosa, Sangüesa and in 924 sacked Pamplona. "Sancius rex…cum coniux mea Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda by charter dated 5 Jan 925, confirmed by "…Garsea eiusdem principis filius, Enneca eiusdem principis filia, Belaschita eiusdem principis filia, Eneco Garseanis, Semeno Garseanis…Eneco Sanzoniz, Garsea Eneconis". The Codex de Roda records the death "925 III Id Dec" of "Sanzio Garseanis" after reigning for twenty years. Another part of the Codex de Roda, "Initium regnum Pampilonam", records that "rex…Sancio Garseanis" was buried "in Sancti Stefani portico".
      m TODA Aznárez, daughter of AZNAR Sánchez de Larraún & his wife Oneca [Íñiga] Fortún ([885]-after 970). The Codex de Roda names "Santio Asnari et domna Tota regina et domna Sanzia" as the children of "Asnari Sanziones qui et Larron" and his wifife, one manuscript specifying that Tota was the wife of "Sanctii Obtimi regis" and that she was "pro neptem de Eneco Arista". "Sancius rex cum Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of Leire by charter dated 21 Oct [912]. "Sancius rexx, filius Garsie regis, successor in regno germani mei Fortunii…cum domina Tuta regina uxore mea" donated property to the monastery of Leire by charter dated 18 Mar [918]. "Sancio Garsianis rex…cum coniuge mea Tota Isinari" donated the monastery of San Pedro to the bishop of Oya by charter dated 28 Oct 924. "Tota regina, seu filio meo Garsia Sancius" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda by charter dated 20 Sep 928. She was regent for her son King García III frofrom 933. "Garsea Sancio" confirmed donations to the monastery of San Pedro de Siresa by "Sancio Garsee…commites domno Galindo, Asenari, Galindonis cum omnis fratres eius" by charter dated 9 Mar 933, signed by "Tota Isenari". Queen Toda becamame a powerful figure and was the principal organiser of the coalition of Christian princes which defeated Abd al-Rahman III at Simancas in 939. She developed alliances through the marriages of her daughters, not only with three successive kings of León but also the powerful Condes de Álava and Castilla. "Garsea rex…cum genitrice Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda by charter dated 22 Nov 947, witnessed by "Santius Ranimiri regis filius, Fortis Iustis…Flaginus comes, Garsea, Eximino, Fortunio Galendo…". The dating clause of a charter dated 15 Apr 958, under which "Muza…cum germana mea Tota" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda, names "regnante…rex Garcia Sanciz in PPampilona, et sub eius Fortun Galindonis in Nagera, et regina Tota in Deio, in Lizarrara". This is the only document so far identified which suggests that an autonomous part of the kingdom was delegated to Queen Toda during the reign of her son. The Codex de Roda records the death of "Tuta regina", undated but immediately following the record of the death in 970 of her son King García III.
      King Sancho I & his wife had six children:
      1. ONECA Sánchez de Navarra (-after Jun 931). The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari", stating that Oneca married "Adefonsi regis Legionensis". "Sancius rex…cum coniux mea Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda by charter dated 5 Jan 925, confirmed by "…Garsea eiusdem principis filius, Enneca eiusdem principis filia, Belaschita eiusdem principis filia…". m (923) ALFONSO IV “el Monje” King of León, son of ORDOÑO II King of León & his first wife Elvira Menéndez ([899]-[Aug 933]).
      2. SANCHA Sánchez de Navarra (after 900-[9 Jun 952/26 Dec 955]). The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari", stating that Sancha married "Ordonii imperatoris, postea…Albaro Harramelliz de Alaba, demumque…Fredenando comitis". The Cronica de Sampiro records the marriage of "regis Garsiani [error for Sanchi]…filiam suam…Sanciam" and King Ordoño II, dateable to 923 from the context of the passage. "Fredenando Gundisalviz et uxor mea Sancia" donated property to the abbey of Silos by charter dated 3 Jun 919 (although this must be misdated), confirmed by "Munio Didace, Sarracine Scemonoz, Garcie Bençemaloçe, Frande Arguisso, Garcie Alvarez". "Momadonna cometessa" donated property in Valzalamio to the monastery of Cardeñas with her son "Fredinando Gundisalviz", her son's wife "Sancia" and their sons "Gundesalvuz Fernandez, Sez, Sanzio Fernandez" by charter dated 5 Aug [935/38]. "Fredinando comes, Sancia comitisa" and their sons "Gundesalvus, Sancius, Munnio" confirmed a charter dated 23 Dec 941 relating to a dispute concerning property of the monastery of Cardeñas. m firstly (Mar 923) as his third wife, ORDOÑO II King of Asturias and León, son of ALFONSO III "el Magno" King of Asturias & his wife Jimena García de Pamplona (-924). m secondly ([924]) ÁLVARO Herrámeliz, son of HERRAMEL & his wife --- (-after 11 Jan 931). He succeeded Munio Velaz as Conde de Álava in [926]. m thirdly ([932]) as his first wife, FERNANDO González Conde de Castilla, son of GONZALO Fernández de Lara Conde de Castilla & his wife Muniadomna [de Asturias] ([910]-970).
      3. URRACA Sánchez de Navarra (-23 Jun 956). The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari", stating that Urraca married "domni Ranimiri regis, frater Adefonsi regis et Froila". Her marriage is indicated by the Cronica de Sampiro which records that Sancho, son of King Ramiro II, challenged the succession of King Ordoño III together with "avunculo suo…Garsiano rege Pampilonensium", on the assumption (as explained in the document ASTURIAS, LEON) that the passage indicates that Sancho was born from his father's second marriage. Another passage in another manuscript of the Chronicon dde Sampiro records that “Ranimirus…Rex” and “Tarasia Regina cognomento Florentina” had “Ordonium, Sanctium et Geloiram”. “Ranimirus Rex Hordonii quondam…Principis proles…cum conjuncta…Urraca Regina” confirmed previous donations to the church of Santiago by charter “IX Kal Mar” dated to 934. m ([932/34]) as his second wife, RAMIRO II King of León, son of ORDOÑO II King of León & his first wife Elvira Menéndez ([900]-1 Jan 951).
      4. VELASQUITA Sánchez de Navarra. The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari", stating that Velasquita married "domni Momi comitis Bizcahiensis", secondly "domni Galindi filium Uernardi comitis et domne Tute" and thirdly "Furtunio Galindonis". "Sancius rex…cum coniux mea Tuta regina" donated property to the monastery of San Martín de Albelda by charter dated 5 Jan 925, confirmed by "…Garsea eiusdem principis filius, Enneca eiusdem principis filia, Belaschita eiusdem principis filia…". m firstly (after 923) MUNIO Conde de Vizcaya, son of --- (-before 931). The precise identity of Velasquita´s first husband is uncertain. The Codex de Roda does not specify his patronymic. A reference has been found during the same period to Munio Vélaz Conde de Álava, son of Vela Jiménez Conde de Álava & his wife ---, and it is possiblle that this was the same person. The title conde was granted infrequently during this period and no reference has yet been found in the Álava/Vizcaya area to another Conde Munio in the early 10th century. Given that comital titles were grantented on a personal basis without territorial qualification, it is not impossible that the same nobleman held land in both Álava and Vizcaya and therefore that he would have been described as conde in either territory in different primary sources. m secondly ([930]) GALINDO de Ribagorza, son of BERNARDO [I] Conde de Ribagorza & his wife Tota ---. m thirdly FORTÚN Galíndez, son of ---. Governor of Nájera from 928 to 973. "Senior Fortunio Galindoyc in Nazera…" confirmed the grant by "Sancio Garsianis rex" of the monastery of San Pedro de Usún to the bishop of Oya, by charter dated 28 Oct 924.
      5. ORBITA Sánchez de Navarra . The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari".
      6. GARCÍA Sánchez de Navarra ([919]-22 Feb 970, bur San Estebán). The Codex de Roda names "Garsea rex et domna Onneca et domna Sanzia et domna Urraca…domna Belasquita, necnon et domna Orbita" as the children of "Sanzio Garseanis" and his wife "Tota Asnari". He succeeded his father in 925 as GARCÍA III King of Navarre, under the regency of his uncle Jimeno García.
      King Sancho had one iIllegitimate daughter by an unknown mistress:
      7. LUPA Sánchez . The Codex de Roda names "domna Lopa" as the child of "Sanzio Garseanis…ex anzilla", stating that she was mother of "Regemundo de Bigorra". She was probably much older than her legitimate brother and sisters, her husband being the great-uncle of the second husband of her half-sister Velasquita Sánchez. m --- de Bigorre, son of --- (-after 930).”

      From Wikipedia (9 Mar 2023)
      Sancho I of Pamplona
      “Sancho Garcés I (Basque: Antso Ia. Gartzez; c. 860 – 10 December 925), also known as Sancho I, was king of Pamplona from 905 until 925. He was the son of García Jiménez and was the first king of Pamplona of the Jiménez dynasty. Sancho I was the feudal ruler of the Onsella valley, and expanded his power to all the neighboring territories. He was chosen to replace Fortún Garcés by the Pamplonese nobility in 905.

      Biography
      Sancho Garcés was born around the year 860, son of García Jiménez and his second wife Dadildis de Pallars. Around the time of the death of King García Íñiguez he ruled the Onsella valley in the western part of the kingdom. He managed to take control of the city of Pamplona while Fortún Garcés was still king, aided by Alfonso III of Asturias and the Count of Pallars. Along with the Pamplonese nobility, they plotted to remove the king's children from the line of succession, which passed down to the king's granddaughter Toda, who was married to Sancho Garcés. He proclaimed himself King of Pamplona in 905.

      Throughout his reign, he involved himself in the squabbles among the Muslim lords to the south with repeated success. In 907, he turned on his former ally Lubb ibn Muhammad, killing him in battle. Four years later, another former ally, Galindo Aznárez, joined with his brother-in-law Muhammad al-Tawil and Abd Allah ibn Lubb al-Qasawi to attack Sancho, but they were defeated and neutralized as a threat. Al-Tawil fled and was killed shortly afterward, and the power of the Banu Qasi was severely crippled, while Galindo was forced into vassalage to Sancho, leading to the incorporation of the County of Aragon into the Pamplona kingdom.

      In 918, Sancho combined with Ordoño II of León to attack the Upper March. Though they failed to occupy Nájera, they took Calahorra, Arnedo and Viguera from the Banu Qasi, and attacked Valtierra, and though they failed to take its fortress, they burned its mosque and surrounding lands. Two years later Sancho teamed with Bernard I of Ribagorza and Amrus ibn Muhammed, son of Muhammad al-Tawil, to attack Banu Qasi-held Monzón. His successes allowed him to join Lower Navarre to his own dominions and extend his territory as far as Nájera. As a thanksgiving offering for his victories, in 924 he founded the monastery of San Martín de Albelda.

      He died near the town of Resa, close to the Ebro river on 10 December, 925 and was buried in Villamayor de Monjardín. His son, García, was only seven years old, so Sancho was succeeded by his brother, Jimeno Garcés.

      Sancho appears to have been the original king called by the byname Abarca, though confusion among family members of the same name had led to it being instead applied to his grandson, Sancho II of Pamplona, by the 19th century. Sancho I gave rise to a dynasty that would rule several Iberian kingdoms, the last ruling until the 13th century, and the dynasty would be called the Banu Sanyo or the Banu Abarca by Al-Andalus scholars, denoting his role as founder.

      Marriage and issue
      Sancho Garcés was married to Toda Aznárez, daughter of the Count Aznar Sánchez and Onneca Fortúnez, herself being daughter of Fortún Garcés. According to the Códice de Roda, they had one son, García, and five daughters, all of whom except Orbita married either kings of León or counts:
      -Urraca Sánchez, Queen consort of the Kingdom of León from 931 until 951 after marrying Ramiro II of León.
      -Onneca Sánchez, Queen consort of the Kingdom of León from 926 until 931 after marrying Alfonso IV of León.
      -Sancha Sánchez (died between 949 and 963), was queen consort of León as the third wife of King Ordoño II. After the king's death in 924, she married Álvaro Herraméliz, count of Álava and then, after his death in 931, she became the wife of Fernán González, count of Castile, who also succeeded her second husband as count of Álava.
      -Velasquita Sánchez, married first to Munio Vélaz, Count of Álava, second to Galindo of Ribargoza and third to Fortún Galindez.
      -Orbita Sánchez, nothing is known about her life.
      -García Sánchez I, King of Pamplona from 925 until 970, married first to Andregoto Galíndez, daughter of the Count of Aragon Galindo Aznárez II and later to Teresa Ramírez, daughter of Ramiro II of León.

      Out of wedlock, he had a daughter, Lupa Sánchez, who was married to Dato II, Count of Bigorre, with whom she had one son, Raymond I, Count of Bigorre (940–956).”
    Person ID I14845  Lowell&Block
    Last Modified 9 Mar 2023 

    Father García II Jiménez, King of Pamplona 
    Mother Dadildis 
    Family ID F5114  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Toda Aznárez,   b. Abt 885,   d. Aft 970  (Age ~ 86 years) 
    Children 
     1. Urraca Sánchez, de Navarra,   d. 23 Jun 956
     2. Oneca Sánchez, de Navarra
     3. Sancha Sánchez, de Navarra,   d. Between 949 and 963
     4. Velasquita Sánchez, de Navarra
     5. Orbita Sánchez, de Navarra
     6. García Sánchez I, King of Navarre,   d. 22 Feb 970
    Last Modified 9 Mar 2023 
    Family ID F5113  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart