Pelagius of Asturias

Pelagius was born around 685, although the exact details of his early life remain largely unknown. Traditionally, Pelagius was depicted as of Visigothic origin. Recent scholarship increasingly supports the idea that Pelagius was a nobleman of Hispano-Roman descent, linked to the local Asturian elite. but by the time, legal distinctions between Roman and Germanic people had already been dropped starting with the Visigothic Code. Historical texts emphasize Pelagius's connection to the Asturian society. He is believed to be the son of Favila. The Chronica Albeldense, elaborated three centuries after his death, says that Favila was a dux of Gallaecia, who was killed by Wittiza. Wittiza is also said to have exiled Pelagius from Toledo upon assuming the crown in 702. In the opinion of Roger Collins, this is a late tradition and the account of the Albeldense, which locates Pelagius's origins in the north of the peninsula, is more credible. Both chronicles agree, however, that he was a Visigoth who was exiled from Toledo by Wittiza. If Munuza's seat is identified with Gijón, it may be inferred that the Arabs had established their rule in the Asturias and that Pelagius was not the leader of a local resistance to Arab conquest. Pelagius may have come to terms with the Arab elite whereby he was permitted to govern locally in the manner of the previous Visigoths, as is known to have occurred between Arab rulers and Visigothic noblemen elsewhere, as in the case of Theudimer, although most historians consider this unlikely. ==Reign==

At some point, Pelagius is said to have rebelled, but for what reasons is unknown; such rebellions by local authorities against their superiors formed a common theme in Visigothic Spain. A Muslim army was sent against him under the command of Alkama and the Christian bishop of Seville, Oppa. That Alkama was the general and that there was a bishop of Seville named Oppa among his ranks is generally accepted. The battle is usually dated to 718 or 719, between the governorships of al-Hurr and al-Samh, though some have dated it as late as 722 and the Chronica Albeldensia dates it in the 740s. After his election as princeps (prince, principal leader) of the Asturians by the local magnates in the Visigothic manner, And he [Pelagius], going to his mountainous lands, gathered all those who were going to council and ascended a big mountain named Asseuua. He spread his orders between all the Astures, who gathered in council and elected Pelagius as their princeps. Pelagius reigned for eighteen or nineteen years until his death in 737, when he was succeeded by his son Fafila. Pelagius was buried in the church of Santa Eulalia de Abamia, located in the surroundings of the village of Corao, near Cangas de Onís. His remains were transferred by King Alfonso X of Castile to the Holy Cave of Covadonga, as were those of his wife Gaudiosa and his sister. He left, in addition to his son and successor Fafila, a daughter, Ermesinda, who was to become progenitress, along with King Alfonso I of Asturias ("Alfonso the Catholic"), of the later royalty of Asturias. ==Historiography==

, was crafted by Spanish artist Gerardo Zaragoza and inaugurated in 1964. The chief sources for Pelagius's life and career are two Latin chronicles written in the late ninth century in the kingdom he founded. The first is the Chronica Albeldensia, written at Albelda towards 881, and preserved in the Codex Vigilanus, with a continuation to 976. The latter is the Chronicle of Alfonso III, which was revised in the early tenth century and preserved in two textual traditions that diverge in several key passages: and the '''', supposedly written by Sebastian, Bishop of Salamanca (910–913). The only likely earlier written sources from which these chroniclers could derive information are regnal lists. ==Notes==