Jaun Zuria

Last updated

Jaun Zuria (Basque for "the White Lord") is the mythical first Lord and founder of the Lordship of Biscay, [1] [2] who defeated the Leonese and Asturian troops in the also-mythical Battle of Padura, in which he chased off the invaders to the Malato Tree, establishing there the borders of Biscay. There are three accounts of its legend, one by the Portuguese count Pedro Barcelos and two by the chronicler Lope García de Salazar. [3] According to the legend, Jaun Zuria had been born from a Scottish or English princess who had been visited by the Basque deity Sugaar in the village of Mundaka.

Contents

It has been suggested that Jaun Zuria might have the same origin or be the same mythical figure as Olaf the White, an Irish Viking sea-king from the 9th century.[ citation needed ]

Accounts of the legend

Bienandanzas e Fortunas

The Basque chronicler Lope García de Salazar (1399–1476) mentions don Çuria on his Bienandanzas e Fortunas, book that he begins to write in 1471. [3] He speaks of the daughter of a Scottish king, who arrives by ship at Mundaka and gives birth to a son in the village. Afterward, both mother and son move to Busturia, where the boy spends most of his childhood. When the son is 22 years old, the Biscayans choose him to be captain of their troops to stop the progress of the army of an Asturian king's son. He is chosen because of his royal blood, as it had been a requirement of the Asturian prince, in order to engage in a formal battle. The Asturian prince and his army are defeated in Arrigorriaga on the Battle of Padura or Arrigorriaga. Thus, the Biscayans choose him to be the first Lord of Biscay and Lord of Durangaldea, [4] and give him the Basque name of Jaun Zuria, that is the White Lord, because of the whiteness of his skin and hair. [3]

Book of the Lineages

The Portuguese Count of Barcelos Pedro Alfonso speaks about a similar story on a similar background, on his Libro dos Linhagems ("Book of the Lineages"). [3] According to him, Biscay was a Lordship before even Castile had kings, but for a lot of time it remained without a lord. An Asturian count named don Moñino knew about this situation, and thus forced the Biscayans to give him as a tribute a cow, an ox and a white horse every year. Soon thereafter, arrived by ship a brother of the king of England named From. He came with one of his sons, named Fortun Froes, and they settled in the village of Busturia. From, being told about the tribute, promised to defend the Biscayans as long as they called him Lord. The Asturian count then, engaged in battle against From and the Biscayans, and was defeated near Arrigorriaga. After From's passing, Fortun Froes became the Lord of Biscay.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Álava</span> Province of Spain

Álava or Araba, officially Araba/Álava, is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Álava, former medieval Catholic bishopric and now Latin titular see.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biscay</span> Province of Spain

Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Vascongadas, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basque mythology</span> Myths of Basque origin

The mythology of the ancient Basques largely did not survive the arrival of Christianity in the Basque Country between the 4th and 12th century AD. Most of what is known about elements of this original belief system is based on the analysis of legends, the study of place names and scant historical references to pagan rituals practised by the Basques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugaar</span> Pre-Christian Basque deity

In Basque mythology, Sugaar is the male half of a pre-Christian Basque deity associated with storms and thunder. He is normally imagined as a dragon or serpent. Unlike his female consort, Mari, there are very few remaining legends about Sugaar. The basic purpose of his existence is to periodically join with Mari in the mountains to generate the storms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrigorriaga</span> Municipality in Basque Country, Spain

Arrigorriaga is a town and municipality located in the province of Bizkaia, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. Arrigorriaga is located 7 km south of Bilbao and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. Its official population at the 2019 census was 12,160 inhabitants living on a land area of 16.36 square kilometres (6.32 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Güeñes</span> Place in Basque Country, Spain

The council of Güeñes is a municipality in the county of Encartaciones. It is furrowed by the waters of the river Cadagua and forms with its neighbor, the municipality of Zalla, Salcedo Valley. In the North it borders Galdames and k; in the east Alonsotegi ;in the west the municipality of Zalla and in the south the municipality of Gordejuela. Its more important centres of population are Güeñes, Sodupe, The Quadra, Zaramillo, Sanchosolo and San Pedro de Goicouría.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mundaka</span> Municipality in Euskadi, Spain

Mundaka is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in northern Spain. Mundaka is internationally renowned for the surfing community that takes advantage of its coast and unique oceanic conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urdaibai estuary</span> Biosphere reserve in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain

The Urdaibai estuary is a natural region and a Biosphere Reserve of Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. It is also referred as Mundaka or Gernika estuary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lope Íñiguez</span>

Lope Íñiguez (c. 1050 – 1093) succeeded his father Íñigo López to become the second Lord of Biscay in 1076.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of the Bands</span> Military history of Spain

The War of the Bands was a civil war, really an extended series of blood feuds, in the western Basque Country, Cantabria, Gascony, and Navarre in the Late Middle Ages. The main primary source for the War is Las Bienandanças e fortunas by Lope García de Salazar, written c.1471. The war is named after the aristocratic networks of familial alliances and their armed followings, known as bandos (bands), that carried out constant wars for power and honour across three kingdoms. The wars ceased only with the imposition of royal authority under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, the Catholic Monarchs.

Íñigo López was the first Lord of Biscay. Although the date is not known precisely, Íñigo's government of Biscay began between 1040 and 1043 at the latest. He was appointed by the king, García Sánchez III of Navarre, and did not govern Biscay by hereditary right. At some point during the 1040s he received or inherited the rank of count. Around the end of his life he began using the style "by the grace of God", recorded for the first time written in legal documents after 1072. This style indicated a new claim to govern Biscay through the agency of God and not merely at the king's will.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lope Díaz I de Haro</span>

Lope Díaz I de Haro (c. 1105 – 6 May 1170) was the fourth Lord of Biscay (from at least 1162). He was an important magnate in Castile during the reign of the Emperor Alfonso VII and in the kingdom of his son and grandson. Between 1147 and 1168 he is recorded as governing Old Castile on behalf of the crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego López II de Haro</span>

Diego López II de Haro called the Good or the Bad. Son of Lope Diaz I de Haro, count of Nájera and of countess Aldonza. He was a first rank magnate in the kingdom of Castile under King Alfonso VIII (1158–1214). He played a decisive role in the rise of the Haro dynasty, as well as in the construction of the nobiliary identity of his group, who was to dominate the Castilian political society during the whole 13th century. A publicity strife around this key figure between his successors and the monarchy, in a moment of deep political troubles, led to the elaboration of his dark image and his golden legend at the end of the 13th century, and the invention of his opposite nicknames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lordship of Biscay</span> Lordship in the Iberian Peninsula between c.1040 and 1876

The Lordship of Biscay was a region under feudal rule in the region of Biscay in the Iberian Peninsula between c.1040 and 1876, ruled by a political figure known as the Lord of Biscay. One of the Basque señoríos, it was a territory with its own political organization, with its own naval ensign, consulate in Bruges and customs offices in Balmaseda and Urduña, from the 11th century until 1876, when the Juntas Generales were abolished. Since 1379, when John I of Castile became the Lord of Biscay, the lordship was integrated into the Crown of Castile, and eventually the Kingdom of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego López III de Haro</span>

Diego López III de Haro. Was the eldest son of Lope Díaz II de Haro and of Urraca Alfonso de León, the illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso IX of León. Diego succeeded his father as the Lord of Biscay between the years 1236 and 1254.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María Díaz I de Haro</span> Spanish noblewoman

María Díaz I de Haro "the Good" (1270–1342) was a Spanish noblewoman of the House of Haro. She was the daughter of Lope Díaz III de Haro who was assassinated by order of the king at Alfaro, La Rioja. She is best known for being the Lady of Biscay and for her lifelong battle against her uncle, Diego López V de Haro, for the title of the lordship of Biscay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lope Díaz de Haro (d. 1322)</span> Spanish noble

Lope Díaz de Haro was a Spanish noble of the House of Haro, the traditional Lords of Biscay. He was the firstborn son of Diego Lopez V de Haro, Lord of Biscay. Whilst he did not inherit his father's title of Lordship over Biscay, he is best known for being the lord of Orduña-Urduña and of Balmaseda. He further served as Alférez to King Ferdinand IV of Castile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vela Ladrón</span> Spanish nobleman of the 12th century.

Vela Ladrón or Latrónez was a Spanish nobleman who ruled the Basque counties of Álava, Biscay (Vizcaya) and Guipúzcoa. He succeeded his father as count of Álava in 1155 or 1156. He acquired Biscay around 1160 and Guipúzcoa around 1162. He was effectively an independent prince able to divide his allegiance between the kings of Castile and Navarre.

Munio Vélaz or Vigílaz was the Count of Álava and probably also of Biscay. The exact dates of his countship are unknown. Only one document, dated 18 May 919 in the cartularies of Valpuesta, names Munio as count in Álava. He ruled between counts Gonzalo Téllez and Fernando Díaz. The counts of Álava are described variously in contemporary documents as ruling "in" Álava, Lantarón or Cerezo. The next count after Munio described as ruling Álava proper is Álvaro Herraméliz in 929. They governed the eastern borderlands of the kingdom of León on behalf of the crown.

Vicente Fatrás Neira was a Spanish politician. In his younger years he was also one of Spain's first racing cyclists.

References

  1. Juan Antonio Llorente (1808). Historicas de las tres Provincias Vascongadas. pp. 441–.
  2. Pascual Madoz (1847). Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de ultramar. Est. Literario-Tipográfico de P. Madoz y L. Sagasti. pp. 69–.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jaun Zuria entry at the Auñamendi Entziklopedia (Spanish)
  4. Libro XX de las BIENANDANZAS E FORTUNAS DE LOPE GARCÍA DE SALAZAR Edición realizada por Ana María Marín Sánchez.