Lordship of Albarracín

Who rules

Name

Pedro Fernández de Azagra

Title

Lord of Albarracín, styled 'vassal of Saint Mary'

Since

1196, on the death of Fernando Ruiz de Azagra

Born

Not pinned. He holds the lordship until 1246, so he was probably young in 1196.

Family

The Azagra, a Navarrese house from Estella. Son of Fernando Ruiz de Azagra (lord 1186-1196), nephew of the founder Pedro Ruiz de Azagra (lord 1167-1186). His cousin Toda Pérez de Azagra, daughter of Pedro Ruiz, married Diego López II de Haro, the great Castilian magnate.

Confidence

high

His father Fernando Ruiz served the king of Aragon as well: in June 1196 'Ferrán Rodrigo' (Fernando Ruiz) was senior of Daroca and Calatayud for Peter II (Miret i Sans). Pedro Fernández will fight at Las Navas (1212), back Rodrigo de Lizana's revolt against James I and withstand a royal siege (1220), and take part in the conquest of Valencia, receiving Altura, Chelva and other places in 1238. Guardianship or minority in 1196 is not recorded in the sources read.

Overlord

None. The lords call themselves vassals of Saint Mary, owning no lord on earth (formula used by Pedro Ruiz from 1176 and by most successors).

What the realm holds

• Albarracín: the town, its Muslim-era fortress and the episcopal church of Santa María
• The Sierra de Albarracín: the upper Guadalaviar and its villages and castles (Gea, Royuela, Torres, Tramacastilla, Villar del Cobo, Griegos, Guadalaviar, Bronchales, Orihuela, Ródenas, Pozondón, Monterde, Bezas, Jabaloyas, Terriente, Moscardón, Frías and the rest), drawn from the later Comunidad de Albarracín; which of these were settled villages in 1200 is not pinned
• Summer pastures of the high sierras (the later Montes Universales)
• Patronage of the bishopric of Santa María de Albarracín, founded 1172

How it was acquired

About 1167 by gift of Ibn Mardanish to Pedro Ruiz de Azagra (the most accepted account); consolidated as an independent Christian lordship by 1172. Inherited by Pedro Ruiz's brother Fernando Ruiz (1186) and by Fernando's son Pedro Fernández (1196).

Allies and rivals

Navarre (the Azagra homeland, and the 1190 Borja accords between Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancho VI of Navarre gave the lordship recognition from both); the Haro of Castile by marriage; Toledo as the bishop's metropolitan. Rivals: the king of Aragon, who claims overlordship, and the bishop of Zaragoza, who claims the see; the councils of Teruel and Daroca over pasture; the Muslim garrisons of Ademuz and Castielfabib.

The realm that morning

Held in full by Pedro Fernández de Azagra. Neither king has any recorded right inside the lordship. No war with Aragon or Castile is attested for 1199.

Wealth

Sheep and pasture in the high sierras, timber and pitch, the tolls of the Guadalaviar valley, and booty and ransom from the Valencian frontier. No figures.

Military

The fortress of Albarracín on its rock above the Guadalaviar, with walls and towers; frontier castles in the sierra. The lords' knights are largely Navarrese by origin. Raids toward Ademuz and Castielfabib; in 1220 the town will withstand a siege by James I.

Threats

• Absorption by Aragon (it finally comes in 1284), or pressure from Castile through Cuenca and the Lara lordship of Molina
• The bishop of Zaragoza's claim over the church of Albarracín
• Almohad raids from Ademuz, Castielfabib and the Turia valley

Church

Bishopric of Santa María de Albarracín, founded 1172 at Pedro Ruiz's request; its first bishop Martín was consecrated by Archbishop Cerebruno of Toledo and placed under Toledo. Martín refused to submit to the bishop of Zaragoza even when the pope ordered it. The bishops called themselves first 'Arcabricensis' and then 'Segobricensis', claiming the old see of Segobriga, identified with Segorbe, which is still Muslim; this is a claim to Segorbe's future diocese.

The standard list gives Martín as bishop 1172-1213 (a very long tenure, so treat the 1200 bishop's name as probable, not certain). A church at Albarracín was consecrated as a cathedral about 1200 (date not pinned).

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

1. No dated event of 1200 is known for the lordshipThe frontier with Ademuz and Castielfabib stays a raiding zone until Peter II takes them in 1210.Depends on: Aragonese and Castilian pressure on Valencia. Stopped by: A general truce with the Almohads.

Places of note

• Albarracín castle and church of Santa María: Seat of the lord and the bishop.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The lords and dates are secure; the extent of the lordship in 1200 is drawn from the later community of villages, and the bishop of 1200 depends on a long standard list.

On the map: The outline follows the modern Sierra de Albarracín municipalities. The southern edge against Muslim Ademuz and Castielfabib and the western edge against Cuenca were raiding frontiers rather than lines.