Egica, rey de los visigodos

Egica, King of the Visigoths

• Reign 687 - 702/703
• Predecessor Erwig
• Successor Witiza
• Birth 650?
• Death [15 November 702] 702/703 [Toledo]
• Consort Cixilo

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Biography

Egica, Egica, Ergica, or Egicca (c.640 – 701x703) was the Visigoth King of Hispania and Septimania from 687 until his death. According to the Chronicle of Alfonso III, he was the nephew of King Wamba.2 Égica was married to Cixilo, daughter of his predecessor, Ervigi.

He was married (c.670) to Cixilo, Cixilona, Cioxillo or Cixila, the daughter of his royal predecessor Erwig and wife Liuvigoto, who, on his deathbed on 14 November 687, confirmed Egica as his heir and sent him with the royal court to Toledo to be crowned.[1] There he was anointed on 24 November. Upon Ergica's marriage to Cixilo, Erwig had made him swear an oath to protect Erwig's children. Before his death Erwig required a second oath, swearing not to deny justice to the people. Shortly after taking the throne, Ergica called the Fifteenth Council of Toledo on 11 May 688, at which he claimed the two oaths were contradictory (because to do justice to the people required "harming" Erwig's children) and asked the council of bishops to release him from one or the other. Egica, however, met the opposition of Julian of Toledo. When the council allowed Egica to abandon his wife but only partially rescinded the oath to protect Erwig's children, Ergica waited until Julian's death (690) to call a second provincial council of Tarraconensis, which resulted in Erwig's widow, Liuvigoto, being sent to a convent.

In 691, Ergica oversaw the beginning of the building of the Church of San Pedro de la Nave in Zamora.

In 693, the metropolitan of Toledo, Sisebert, led a rebellion against Ergica in favor of raising a man named Suniefred to the throne. The rebels controlled Toledo for a time, because they were able to mint coins in the potential usurper's name.[2] The plan to assassinate Ergica, the dowager queen Liuvigoto, and several main counsellors failed, and Sisebert was defrocked and excommunicated. Furthermore, his descendants were barred from holding any offices and any other rebel or descendant of a rebel who might rise up against Ergica was to be sold into slavery.

In 694, Ergica enacted the most severe anti-Jewish law by a Visigothic king yet. In response, so he claimed to the Seventeenth Council of Toledo, to the connivance of Jews at home with Jews abroad who were fomenting rebellions to overthrow Christian leaders, Ergica declared all Jewish-held land forfeit, all Jews to be enslaved to Christians, and all Jewish children over the age of seven to be taken from their homes and raised as Christians. Jewish-owned Christian slaves were to be invested with the Jews' property and to be responsible for paying the taxes on the Jews. In towns where Jews were deemed indispensable to the economy, however, this law wasn't applied. Indeed, as a result of the disintegrating Visigothic power, it was hardly enforced beyond the capital city itself.

Shortly before he died, Ergica amended a law which stated that anyone accused of theft of goods worth 300 solidi was to undergo a trial by boiling water. Under Ergica's changes, anyone accused of theft for whatever amount would have to undergo this ordeal. At the same time, Ergica published several laws which dealt harshly with the issue of fugitive slaves, while simultaneously rescinding laws which permitted slaveholders to mutilate their slaves as punishment. Ergica also remitted taxes, but this does not seem to have boosted his popularity. He got the bishops to order prayers to be said in his name and that of his family in every cathedral in Hispania.

As early as 694 he associated Wittiza, his son by Cixilo, with him even though he was a minor. As one of his very last acts he had Wittiza anointed in 700. He died in his bed, with his succession secured, sometime between 701 and 703.

His other two sons, who joined Musa bin Nusair and Tariq ibn Ziyad against Roderic, were Don Oppas, Archbishop or Bishop of Seville, maybe a bastard son, and Sisebuto, who later became the Comes of the Christians of Coimbra, as were his son Ataulfo, his grandson Atanarico and his great-grandson Teudo in 770, 801/802 and 805, who was the ancestor of most of Portuguese and Spanish nobility.

Origins

In 680, Wamba fell ill or (according to the Chronicle of Alfonso III two hundred years later) was poisoned in Pampliega, near Burgos. He received the order of penance in anticipation of his death, and as a result was forced to step down as king upon his recovery. The Chronicle of Alfonso III blames Wamba's successor Erwig for this; some modern commentators have blamed Julian of Toledo, who was made primate of the Visigothic church by Erwig (in reward for his services?).[9] But Julian perpetuated the memory of Wamba in his account of the revolt of Paul, Historia Wambae Regís.

Ironically, it was Wamba's nephew, son of his sister Ariberga, Ergica, who married Erwig's daughter and became the new king at his father in law's death.

Family

Project MedLands, VANDALS, SUEVI & VISIGOTHS

WAMBA (-after 687[331], bur [Villa Gérticos], transferred 13th century to Toledo[332]). On the death of King Recesvinto in 672, he was acclaimed as WAMBA King of the Visigoths at Gérticos, where his predecessor had died, without waiting to be elected in Toledo in line with previous practice although he was anointed as king at Toledo 19 Sep 672[333]. The History of King Wamba was written by Julian Bishop of Toledo in [675][334], reviewed in detail by Teillet[335]. The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum records the accession of "Wamba" and his reign of 8 years[336]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Wamba was elected king "in the era 710 (672)" but "at first declined, not wanting to assume power, but he finally accepted against his will what the army requested…was taken to Toledo and anointed king in the church of St Mary"[337]. In Summer 673, King Wamba suppressed the revolt of Paulus, whom the king had sent to Septimania to suppress another rebellion, punishing the culprits severely[338]. He introduced compulsory military service, with property confiscation and loss of civil rights for non-attendance. King Wamba was deposed by Ervigio in 680 and retired to the monastery of Pampliega near Burgos. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Ervigio gave Wamba "a herb called spartus to drink and immediately Wamba's memory was taken away", recording that after he recovered Wamba retired to a monastery where he lived for seven years and three months and "died a natural death in the era 719 (681)"[339]. Laterculus regum Visigothorum records the death "Id Oct aera 718" of "Wamba"[340]. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Wamba Rex” reigned for eight years, one month, and 14 days, and died “pridie Id Oct 719”[341].

2. [--- . m ---.] One child:

• a) EGICA (-Toledo end 702). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "the nobleman Egica, nephew of Wamba" when recording his marriage[342]. [same person as...? EGICA (-after Nov 683). Dux. “...Egica comes scanciarum et dux...” subscribed the document dated Nov 683 which records the acts of the concilium of Toledo XIII[343]. García Moreno, in his Prosopografía del reino visigodo de Toledo, suggest that dux Egica was the same person as King Egica[344].] Egica was one of the chief opponents of King Ervigio, whose daughter he married, and who nominated him as his successor as a means of maintaining power. He was elected to succeed his father-in-law in 687 as EGICA King of the Visigoths. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Egica” was anointed king “in ecclesia sanctorum Petri et Pauli Prætoriensis…VIII Kal Dec…era 725”[345]. After his accession, he forced his predecessor's queen to retire to a nunnery. He was faced with numerous rebellions from among the nobility, which he punished severely[346]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Egica ruled for "ten years before the accession of his son and five more years with his son as co-ruler [and]…died a natural death in Toledo"[347]. married ([681/86], repudiated [687]%29 CIXILO the Visigoth, daughter of ERVIGIO King of the Visigoths & his wife Liubigotona ([663/65]-). The Chronicle of Alfonso III records the marriage of "the nobleman Egica, nephew of Wamba" and "Ervig…his daughter Cixilo"[348]. Her birth date range is estimated from (1) the estimated birth and marriage dates of her father, based on the arrival of her grandfather in Spain during the reign of King Chindasvinto, and (2) the birth of her son Witiza before her repudiation. Given this tight birth date range, it is likely that Cixilo was her father's eldest child. Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by the charter dated to [680/86] which records that "socer noster Ervigius princeps…domina mea Leuvitona regina" granted "filiam suam" as wife of "Egicæ regis"[349]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records her repudiation "when [King Ervigio] ascended the throne"[350].

King Egica and his wife CIXILO had two children:

• i) WITIZA ([681/86]-Toledo early 710). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "Witiza" as the son of Egica and his wife, born before her repudiation[351]. He was elected to succeed his father in 702 as WITIZA King of the Visigoths.
  
• ii) OPPA (-after 722). The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum names "Oppam filium Egiche regis"[352]. In the Chronicle of Alfonso III, he is described as Bishop of Toledo and son of King Witiza[353], but this is chronologically impossible considering the likely birth date ranges of Witiza's sons. Bishop of Seville. The Chronicle of 754 records that "in the era 749 (711)…Oppa, King Egica's son" helped Musa "arresting [the noble lords] in their flight from Toledo"[354]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that he was captured by Pelayo King of Asturias in [722] after the battle of Covadonga, following an attempt to negotiate on behalf of the Muslims.
  

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References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdom
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egica “ He was the son of Ariberga, sister of Wamba and daughter of Tulga.”
• http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89gica

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89gica

Égica (c. 610 – 702) fue uno de los últimos reyes del reino visigodo de Toledo (687 – 702). Fue coronado el 24 de noviembre de 687 en la Iglesia de los Santos Apóstoles de Toledo. Estaba casado con Cixilona, hija de su antecesor, Ervigio.

Ervigio obligó a Égica a proteger a su familia bajo juramento, pero Égica, movido por el odio que sentía hacia su familia política, no tardó en intentar librarse de esa imposición. Así en el XV Concilio de Toledo, que se inauguró en la iglesia de los Santos Apóstoles el 11 de mayo de 688, Égica mantuvo la imposibilidad de cumplir el juramento que le obligaba a defender a la familia real y, al mismo tiempo, el real que le obligaba a prestar justicia al pueblo; porque reparar las injusticias al pueblo suponía revertir a sus auténticos dueños los bienes expoliados por la casa real. El concilio resolvió que ambos juramentos eran complementarios, pues nada impedía castigar a los culpables, aunque se les diera protección a los inocentes.

No contento con el resultado, Égica convocó un sínodo de obispos en Zaragoza el 1 de noviembre de 691, revocando parcialmente el concilio y permitiendo mano libre con la familia real a Égica. Sin embargo, esto no evitó los conflictos con la nobleza y la Iglesia, especialmente lejos de la Tarraconense, donde se encontraba más protegido.

Los rebeldes llegaron a colocar en el trono a Suniefredo (692), pero el rey reunió tropas, regresó a Toledo y la tomó por las armas, imponiendo nuevamente su autoridad. Para dar legitimidad a su acción, convocó el XVI Concilio de Toledo en 693, el cual permitió la confiscación de los bienes de los sublevados y su incorporación al tesoro real. La sede del obispado de Toledo y el de Sevilla quedaron en manos de hombres leales al rey.

Trató de modificar la legislación anterior, en especial el Código de Recesvinto, con suerte dispar, en un intento por consolidar el trono. Dictó una serie de normas contra los judíos apoyadas en una ley civil y ratificadas en el XVII Concilio de Toledo. Con el Tomo Regio se reactiva la política antijudía, y contiene tanto leyes anteriores como nuevas, principalmente centradas en el ámbito económico, como la prohibición de comerciar o el incremento de los impuestos; y en el social: Disgregación de comunidades judías y obligación de entregar al hijo a la edad de 7 años a una familia cristiana. Pero hay serias dudas de que estas leyes se llevaran a la práctica con carácter general. Egica se procuró el apoyo de la Iglesia para evitar que a su muerte, su familia sufriese una persecución similar a la que él había dispensado a su antecesor.

El 15 de noviembre de 700, Égica nombró sucesor a su hijo Witiza, a quien se le confió el gobierno de Gallaecia, estableciendo su residencia real en Tude (Tuy en la actualidad). Witiza tuvo desde entonces la consideración de rey pleno, y los dos años siguientes fueron llamados de “gobierno conjunto” (en las monedas Regni concordia). En esta época se produce un desembarco bizantino en el Levante y tanto la peste como las malas cosechas hacen que se creen focos de tensión y revueltas. Witiza quedó como rey único tras la muerte de Égica en el 702.

Iniciador de una dinastía real en una Hispania en la que el carácter electivo del monarca sucumbía frente al principio hereditario.

Se discute el origen de su linaje -discusión no pocas veces teñida de parcialidad e intencionalidad-. La historiografía oficial lo hace godo, los galleguistas, hispanorromano de base celta, los portugueses, suevo. Sin embargo es posible que su origen debería ubicarse entre los alanos iranios que ingresaron en Galicia como grupo independiente que acompañó la invasión sueva.

Rey de España, 687-702

FUENTES:

-http://www.abcgenealogia.com/Godos00.html

-Orlandis, José. Semblanzas visigodas. Ediciones RIALP. 1992.

Egica, Egica, Ergica, or Egicca (c.610 – 701x703) was the Visigoth King of Hispania and Septimania from 687 until his death. He was the son of Ariberga, sister of Wamba and daughter of Tulga.

He was married (c.670) to Cixilo, Cixilona, Cioxillo or Cixila, the daughter of his royal predecessor Erwig and wife Liuvigoto, who, on his deathbed on 14 November 687, confirmed Egica as his heir and sent him with the royal court to Toledo to be crowned.[1] There he was anointed on 24 November. Upon Ergica's marriage to Cixilo, Erwig had made him swear an oath to protect Erwig's children. Before his death Erwig required a second oath, swearing not to deny justice to the people. Shortly after taking the throne, Ergica called the Fifteenth Council of Toledo on 11 May 688, at which he claimed the two oaths were contradictory (because to do justice to the people required "harming" Erwig's children) and asked the council of bishops to release him from one or the other. Egica, however, met the opposition of Julian of Toledo. When the council allowed Egica to abandon his wife but only partially rescinded the oath to protect Erwig's children, Ergica waited until Julian's death (690) to call a second provincial council of Tarraconensis, which resulted in Erwig's widow, Liuvigoto, being sent to a convent.

In 691, Ergica oversaw the beginning of the building of the Church of San Pedro de la Nave in Zamora.

In 693, the metropolitan of Toledo, Sisebert, led a rebellion against Ergica in favor of raising a man named Suniefred to the throne. The rebels controlled Toledo for a time, because they were able to mint coins in the potential usurper's name.[2] The plan to assassinate Ergica, the dowager queen Liuvigoto, and several main counsellors failed, and Sisebert was defrocked and excommunicated. Furthermore, his descendants were barred from holding any offices and any other rebel or descendant of a rebel who might rise up against Ergica was to be sold into slavery.

In 694, Ergica enacted the most severe anti-Jewish law by a Visigothic king yet. In response, so he claimed to the Seventeenth Council of Toledo, to the connivance of Jews at home with Jews abroad who were fomenting rebellions to overthrow Christian leaders, Ergica declared all Jewish-held land forfeit, all Jews to be enslaved to Christians, and all Jewish children over the age of seven to be taken from their homes and raised as Christians. Jewish-owned Christian slaves were to be invested with the Jews' property and to be responsible for paying the taxes on the Jews. In towns where Jews were deemed indispensable to the economy, however, this law wasn't applied. Indeed, as a result of the disintegrating Visigothic power, it was hardly enforced beyond the capital city itself.

Shortly before he died, Ergica amended a law which stated that anyone accused of theft of goods worth 300 solidi was to undergo a trial by boiling water. Under Ergica's changes, anyone accused of theft for whatever amount would have to undergo this ordeal. At the same time, Ergica published several laws which dealt harshly with the issue of fugitive slaves, while simultaneously rescinding laws which permitted slaveholders to mutilate their slaves as punishment. Ergica also remitted taxes, but this does not seem to have boosted his popularity. He got the bishops to order prayers to be said in his name and that of his family in every cathedral in Hispania.

As early as 694 he associated Wittiza, his son by Cixilo, with him even though he was a minor. As one of his very last acts he had Wittiza anointed in 700. He died in his bed, with his succession secured, sometime between 701 and 703.

His other two sons, who joined Musa bin Nusair and Tariq ibn Ziyad against Roderic, were Don Oppas, Archbishop or Bishop of Seville, maybe a bastard son, and Sisebuto, who later became the Comes of the Christians of Coimbra, as were his son Ataulfo, his grandson Atanarico and his great-grandson Teudo in 770, 801/802 and 805, who was the ancestor of most of Portuguese and Spanish nobility.