Ordoño I of Asturias

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Statue in Madrid (A. Helgueros, 1750-53).

Ordoño I (831–27 May 866) became the king of Asturias in 850. He was born in Oviedo, where he spent his early life in the court of Alfonso II. He was probably associated with the crown from an early age.

When just nine years old, he moved to Lugo, capital of the province of Galicia, of which his father, Ramiro, had been named governor. There he was educated, even in the military arts.

Ordoño was named governor of Galicia when his father went off to Vardulias to marry Paterna (his second wife). While away, Alfonso died and Ramiro was proclaimed king. However, Ramiro still away, the impatient nobles elected Count Nepocian in opposition. Ordoño immediately began to raise an army to assist his father in putting down the usurper. He could not leave his post in Galici to help, however, and his army went unused. When his father finally prevailed, he confirmed Ordoño in his heretofore provisional position.

In 847, at the age of 26, Ordoño married Muniadona, probably a sister of the count of Bierzo. She was to give him six children, including his successor, Alfonso III.

On January 1, 850, Ordoño succeeded his father as king. He was the first king of Asturias to ascend the throne without election, he was the heir of his father. His first confrontation was with the Basques, who rebelled with the support of the Banu Qasi of Zaragoza. While returning to Oviedo after defeating the rebels, he received news of an impending Moorish assault on Vardulias. Before the Moors could attack, he met them near the Ebro and defeated them. These victories meant little in the long run, for the governor of Zaragoza, Musa ibn Musa fortified the city of Albaida (Albelda). In 859, Ordoño defeated him at Albelda and besieged and razed the city.

He supported the mozarab rebels, which cost him at Guadacelete in 854. But this fiasco only incited him to consolidate the "Desert of the Duero", the depopulated region between the Asturian cordillera and the river Duero. He directed the Repoblación, by which were repopulated the towns of León, Astorga, Tui, and Amaya.

He intended to advance against the governor of Tudela and thus control all access to the Navarre and the Basque Country, but the Emirate of Córdoba responded with an invasion of Álava and a sack of the eponymous city. At Bureba, the Arabs defeated Rodrigo, first count of Castile, and set back the Reconquista for years.

Ordoño died in Oviedo and was succeeded by his eldest son.