Ardabasto

Family

Project MedLands, VANDALS, SUEVI & VISIGOTHS

WITIZA, son of EGICA King of the Visigoths & [his wife Cixilo ] ([681/86]-Toledo early 710). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "Witiza" as the son of Egica and his wife, born before her repudiation[381]. The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum records that Egica associated "Wittizanem filium" on the throne[382]. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Witiza” was anointed king “XVII Kal Dec era 738” [Nov 700][383]. According to the Chronicle of Alfonso III, his father ordered Witiza to live "in the city of Tuy so that, while the father held the kingship of the Goths, the son would rule the Suevi"[384]. He was elected to succeed his father in 702 as WITIZA King of the Visigoths. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records the succession of Witiza "in the era 739 (701)", commenting that "he was a reprobate and was disgraceful in his habits…took many wives and concubines"[385]. Falcón comments that he was a conciliatory monarch, pardoning many of the conspirators punished by his father[386]. He murdered Theodofredo, father of the future King Rodrigo. The Chronicle of King Alfonso III, written in [754], blamed the success of the Muslim invasion on King Witiza's immorality, and records his "natural death in Toledo in the era 749 (711)"[387]. The Ajbar Machmua records the death of "el rey de España Gaitixa" leaving "algunos hijos, entre ellos Obba y Sisberto", undated[388]. married ?.

The name of Witiza's wife or wives is not known. Ibn-el Kouthya names "Almounz, Roumlouh et Ardebast" as the three sons of "le dernier des rois Goths en Andalousie…Witiza…encore en bas âge", adding that their mother "prit la régence et gouverna en leur nom à Tolède" but that "Rodrigue…le caid des armées du monarque défunt…vint établir sa residence à Cordoue"[389].

King Witiza and [his wife] had three children:

• 1. AKILA ([700/06]-). Ibn-el Kouthya names "Almounz, Roumlouh et Ardebast" as the three sons of "le dernier des rois Goths en Andalousie…Witiza…encore en bas âge", adding that their mother "prit la régence et gouverna en leur nom à Tolède" but that "Rodrigue…le caid des armées du monarque défunt…vint établir sa residence à Cordoue"[390]. He and his brothers must have been infants when their father died given the chronology of dates of birth and marriage of their parents, all based on the arrival of Ardabasto at the Visigothic court during the reign of King Chindasvinto as reported in the Chronicle of Alfonso III (see above). Ibn-el Kouthya states that Rodrigo asked for assistance from "les fils de Witiza, qui avaient déjà attaint l'âge de puberté et pouvaient monter à cheval", but that "Almounz…avec ses deux frères" betrayed Rodrigo and informed "Tharik fils de Ziad"[391]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that "the Saracens entered Spain on account of the treachery of the sons of Witiza"[392]. Given Akila´s estimated birth date, it is unlikely that any of these reports can be correct. It appears that Akila and his brothers were allowed to retain their lands in Andalucía following the Muslim invasion[393]: Ibn-el Kouthya records that "Almounz" established a court in Seville and possessed "mille villages dans la partie occidentale de l'Espagne"[394]. m ---. The name of Akila's wife is not known.
• 2. OLMUNDO ([701/08]-). Ibn-el Kouthya names "Almounz, Roumlouh et Ardebast" as the three sons of "le dernier des rois Goths en Andalousie…Witiza…encore en bas âge", adding that their mother "prit la régence et gouverna en leur nom à Tolède" but that "Rodrigue…le caid des armées du monarque défunt…vint établir sa residence à Cordoue"[402]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "Roumlouh" possessed "mille villages situés dans la partie orientale de l'Andalousie", chose Toledo as his capital, and was ancestor of "Hafs, fils d'El-Borkadi l'Etranger"[403].
• 3. ARDABASTO ([702/09]-after 756). Ibn-el Kouthya names "Almounz, Roumlouh et Ardebast" as the three sons of "le dernier des rois Goths en Andalousie…Witiza…encore en bas âge", adding that their mother "prit la régence et gouverna en leur nom à Tolède" but that "Rodrigue…le caid des armées du monarque défunt…vint établir sa residence à Cordoue"[404]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "Ardebast" remained in Córdoba and possessed "mille villages…au centre du pays" and was ancestor "en ligne directe d'Abou Said le Comte"[405]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "leur oncle Ardebast" seized the domains of the children of "Almounz" after he died "au commencement du règne du khalife Hicham, fils d'Abd-el-Malek" (who reigned from 724 to 741)[406]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that Abd er-Rahman ordered the confiscation of his lands from "Ardebast" but later appointed him "le premier comte de l'Espagne musulmane" and returned some of his lands.

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Family notes

Wittiza [1] (Witiza, Witica, Witicha, Vitiza, or Witiges; c. 687 – probably 710) was the Visigothic King of Hispania from 694 until his death, co-ruling with his father, Egica, until 702 or 703. [no wife is mentioned]

The "sons of Wittiza", who are otherwise unknown, are made out by the Chronicle of Alfonso III to be traitors who helped deliver Hispania to the Moors. Oppa, a shadowy but historical figure, is reputed to have been either a brother, half-brother, or a son of Wittiza, though the latter is impossible based simply on Wittiza's youthfulness and Oppa's reputed age in 711. According to the Rotensis version of the Chronicle of Alfonso III, Wittiza had three sons: Olmund [ca], Romulus, and Ardabast (Artabasdus), who became Count of the Christians of Coimbra.[27] Olmund is a Gothic name, Romulus is Roman, and Ardabast (Artavasdes) is Persian[28] (through Armenian).

Olmund's daughter, Sara al-Qutiyya, and her brothers had their lands appropriated in the succession crisis, by their uncle Ardabast. She travelled to Damascus to petition Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik for their return, which he then ordered.[29]

Witiza in Spanish Wikipedia offspring

The Chronicle of the 10th century by Abu Bakr Ibn Umar Ibn Al-Qutiyya - who declared to be a descendant of Witiza through a granddaughter named Sara - establishes that Witiza had three children: Olmundo, Artabas (Artabasdus) and Romulus (Romulus).44 But the acceptance of the veracity of this offspring is not universal.

Some chronicles affirm the existence of a Flavio Sisebuto, judge of the Christians of Coimbra, as the son of Witiza. Some modern genealogists have come to identify this Sisebutus with the Artobas registered in the Arab chronicles. But if this count really existed, by chronology it would be more likely that he was Witiza's brother and not the son.

There has also been speculation that King Agila II, Rodrigo's rival, was one of Witiza's sons, but this is a mistake as a result of contradictory and legendary data from Hispano-Arab historiography.46