Sara la Gothe

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

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Project MedLands, VANDALS, SUEVI & VISIGOTHS

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.. Akila & his wife had three children:
  • a) SARA ([720/25]-). Ibn-el Kouthya names "une fille…Sara la Gothe et deux fils en bas âge, Mathroubal et Oppas, l'un à Séville et l'autre en Galice" as the children of "Almounz" and that "leur oncle Ardebast" seized their domains, adding that "la princesse Sarah se créa une cour à Seville"[395]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "la princesse Sarah [et] ses jeunes frères" left for Syria and complained to "Hisham, fils d'Abd-el-Malek" about the conduct of her uncle, adding that there she first met "Abd-er-Rahman, fils de Moawia, qui était encore enfant" (his birth is dated to [729][396]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "la princesse Sarah" returned to Spain with "Aïça fils de Mozahim" who restored her possessions to her and became her husband, by whom she had "deux enfants, Ibrahim et Ishak" before he died "la meme année qu'Abd-errahman fils de Moawia" arrived in Spain (in 755)[397]. Ibn-el Kouthya records that "Hamouih fils de Molamis el-Mazadji et Omaïr, fils de Saïd el-Lakhmi" competed for her hand after her first husband died, and that she married Omar "grace à l'appui de Tsalaba, fils d'Obeïd el-Djozami", and that by him she had "Habib, fils d'Omaïr, qui fut la souche des Benou-Seïd, des Benou-Haddjadj, des Benou-Maslama et des Benou-Djourz…à Seville"[398]. Her descendants by her first marriage founded the dynasty to which Ibn el-Kouthya, the 9th century historian, belonged[399]. married firstly ([735/50]) AISA, son of MOZAHIM (-755). married secondly OMAR, son of SAID el-Lakhmi.
  • b) MADRUBAL . Ibn-el Kouthya names "une fille…Sara la Gothe et deux fils en bas âge, Mathroubal et Oppas, l'un à Séville et l'autre en Galice" as the children of "Almounz" and that "leur oncle Ardebast" seized their domains[400].
  • c) OPPA (-Galicia ). Ibn-el Kouthya names "une fille…Sara la Gothe et deux fils en bas âge, Mathroubal et Oppas, l'un à Séville et l'autre en Galice où il mourut" as the children of "Almounz" and that "leur oncle Ardebast" seized their domains[401].