List of Asturian monarchs

This is a list of the rulers of the Kingdom of Asturias, a kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula during the Early Middle Ages. It originated as a refuge for Visigothic nobles following the conquest of Iberia by the Umayyad Caliphate. Following the forced abdication of Alfonso III by his sons in 910, the kingdom was split into three: Asturias, León, and Galicia. All three were reunited in 924 under the Kingdom of León.

For later kings, see the list of Leonese monarchs and the list of Galician monarchs. From 1388, the title Prince of Asturias has been used for the heirs to the Castillian and Spanish thrones.

List

Image Name Life Reign Capital of Asturias Notes
Pelagius
Pelayo
c. 685 – 737 714 – 737 Cangas de Onís By tradition regarded as the first king of Asturias. Elected princeps by local magnates in the old Visigoth manner.
Favila
Fáfila, Favilac
died 739 737 – 739 Only son of Pelagius. He was elected to princeps on his father’s death. Killed by a bear during a hunt and died childless.
Alfonso I, the Catholic
Alonso I, el Católico
c. 693 – 757 739 – 757 Husband of Ermesinda, daughter of Pelagius and sister of Favila, and it is through his wife that Alfonso ascended to the throne. First ruler of Asturias definitely to have been known as “king” during his lifetime.
Fruela I, the Cruel
Fruela I, Froila I, el Cruel
c. 722 – 768 757 – 768 Oldest son of Alfonso I. Assassinated by his own men.
Aurelius
Aurelio
c. 740 – 774 768 – 774 San Martín Cousin of Fruela I. Elected by Asturian nobility after the death of his predecessor. There is no record of his having any children.
Silo died 783 774 – 783 Pravia Husband of Adosinda, daughter of Alfonso I and granddaughter of Pelagius. Elected by Asturian nobility after the death of his predecessor. Matrilineal succession is thought to have had a part in his election.
Mauregatus, the Usurper
Mauregato, el Usurpador
c. 719 – 789 783 – 789 Illegitimate son of Alfonso I. In spite of the election of Alfonso II as the successor to Silo, Mauregato was able to assemble an army and seize the throne. Mauregatus died of natural causes.
Bermudo I, the Deacon
Bermudo I, Vermudo I, el Diácono
c. 750 – 797 788 – 791 Brother of Aurelius. He was elected king by palatine officials. He abdicated after a defeat in battle, possibly under duress. He reportedly lived a long time after as a monk.
Alfonso II, the Chaste
Alfonso II, el Casto
c. 760 – 842 791 – 842 Oviedo Son of Fruela I. First elected king in 783. Although overthrown by Mauregatus, he escaped and avoided being killed. In 791, he was elected king again after the abdication of Bermudo I. Alfonso died without children.
Nepotian 842 – 842 Seized power and briefly ruled after the death of Alfonso II, when Alfonso’s designated heir, Ramiro I was not present. On Ramiro’s return, Nepotian was deposed, blinded, and imprisoned.
Ramiro I c. 790 – 850 842 – 850 Son of Bermudo I. Designated heir of Alfonso II.
Ordoño I 821 – 866 850 – 866 Son of Ramiro II, succeeding his father without election.
Alfonso III, the Great
Alfonso III, el Magno
852 – 910 866 – 910 Son of Ordoño I. Alfonso succeeded his father in that throne.

The circumstances are uncertain, but after his death, Alfonso’s death, his kingdom was divided among his three sons, with his eldest, García I receiving the new kingdom of León, his middle son Ordoño receiving the new kingdom of Galicia, and his youngest Fruela what remained of Asturias.

Fruela II, the Leprous
Fruela II, Froila II, el Leproso
875 – 925 910 – 924 Youngest son of Alfonso III, and younger brother to García I and Ordoño II. Fruela was given the remnents of the kingdom of Asturias, from which León and Galicia had been created. On the death of Ordoño II in 924, who had inherited León from García I in 914, Alfonso became ruler of all of three kingdoms created from that of his father.

Fruela is usually considered the last King of Asturias, as under his rule Asturias was folded into León.

Timeline

Fruela II of LeónAlfonso III of AsturiasOrdoño I of AsturiasRamiro I of AsturiasAlfonso II of AsturiasBermudo I of AsturiasMauregatoSilo of AsturiasAurelioFruela I of AsturiasAlfonso I of AsturiasFavilaPelagius of Asturias

Family tree

Pelagius
King of Asturias
685–718-737
GaudiosaPeter
Duke of Cantabria
?-730
FroilubaFavila
King of Asturias
?-737–739
Ermesinda
≈720/730—?
Alfonso I
the Catholic

King of Asturias
≈693–739-757
Fruela
of Cantabria
?-≈758
Munia
of Álava
≈740-780
Fruela I
the Cruel

King of Asturias
≈722–757-768
Vimarano
?-765
Adosinda
?-785
Silo
King of Asturias
?-774-783
Mauregato
King de Asturias
?-783-789
Creusa
?-789
Bermudo I
the Deacon

King of Asturias
≈750–788–
791
-797
Aurelius
King of Asturia
≈740–768-774
Alfonso II
the Chaste

King of Asturias
760–791–842
?
Urraca
Ramiro I
King of Asturias
≈790–842-850
Paterna
Ordoño I
King of Asturias
821–850-866
Sancho I
Garcés

King of Pamplona
≈860–905–925
Nuño
Ordóñez
Alfonso III
the Great

King of Asturias
848–866-910
Jimena
of Pamplona
?-912
Bermudo
Ordóñez
Sancha
Sánchez
of Pamplona
Ramiro
?-929
García I
King of León
≈871–910-914
Muniadona
Elvira
Menéndez

d. 921
Ordoño II
King of Galicia
≈873–910–924
King of León
r.914–924
Aragonta
González
NuniloFruela II
King of Asturias
≈875–910–925
King of León
and Galicia
r.924–925
Urraca
bint
Abd Allah
Kings of the
Kingdom of
Leon
Alfonso
Fróilaz
the Hunchback

King of León
?-925–926-932
Ramiro
Froilaz
Ordoño
Froilaz
Family tree of the Asturian kings

See also