Favila of Asturias

Fafila, Favila, or Favilac (died 739) was the second King of Asturias from 737 until his death. He was the only son and successor of Pelagius, the first Asturian monarch, and was named after his paternal grandfather, who was the youngest son of Chindasuinth.

Favila
Carvings depicting Favila's last day, from the twelfth-century portal of the monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva
King of Asturias
Reign737-739
Coronation737
PredecessorPelagius
SuccessorAlfonso I
Died739
Cangas de Onís, Asturias
Burial
Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís
ConsortFroiluba
DynastyAstur-Leonese dynasty
FatherPelagius
MotherGaudiosa
ReligionRoman Catholicism

In 737 he founded the Church of Santa Cruz, in his capital of Cangas de Onís, but aside from this, nothing else about his reign is known.

He was said to have been killed by a bear on a hunt.[1] The hunt was probably a tool for fostering political ties within his court, a common medieval practice. Nonetheless, later chroniclers of the Cronica ad Sebastianum criticised him as given over to excessive levity.[1]

A 1530s miniature, depicting Favila being mauled by a bear.

Favila was buried with his wife Froiluba in the Church of Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís. According to the foundation inscription of Santa Cruz, he left children, but they did not succeed him. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Alfonso, husband of his sister Ermesinda.

References

  • Collins, Roger. The Arab Conquest of Spain, 71097. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1989. ISBN 0-631-15923-1.
Preceded by
Pelagius
King of Asturias
737–739
Succeeded by
Alfonso I


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