Mauregatus of Asturias

Mauregatus the Usurper (Spanish: Mauregato) was the king of Asturias from 783 to 788 or 789. He was an illegitimate son of Alfonso I, supposedly by a Moorish serf. He usurped the throne on the death of Silo, his brother-in-law (the husband of his half sister Adosinda). The nobility had elected Alfonso II at Adosinda's insistence, but Mauregatus assembled a large army of supporters and forced Alfonso into Álava.

Mauregatus
Posthumous portrait by Manuel Castellano
King of Asturias
Reign783-789
Coronation783
PredecessorSilo
SuccessorBermudo I
BornAsturias
Died789
Pravia, Asturias
Burial
ConsortCreusa
IssueHermenegildo
DynastyAstur-Leonese dynasty
FatherAlfonso I of Asturias
MotherSisalda
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Nothing is known in detail of his reign. The adoptionist dispute was raging between Elipandus, Archbishop of Toledo, and Beatus of Liébana and even occasioned the intervention of Charlemagne. Mauregatus also sent back an invading Muslim force.

During his reign a hymn to Saint James was composed with an acrostic mentioning the king's name. This is considered to presage the legend of the saint's burial at Santiago de Compostela.

Preceded by
Silo
King of Asturias
783–788
Succeeded by
Bermudo I
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