| Ramiro I of Aragon | |
|---|---|
 13th-century miniature of Ramiro | |
| King of Aragon | |
| Reign | 1035 – 1063 |
| Successor | Sancho Ramírez |
| Born | before 1007 |
| Died | 8 May 1063 (aged 55–56) Graus |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Ermesinda of Bigorre Agnes |
| Issue |
|
| House | House of Jiménez |
| Father | Sancho III of Pamplona |
| Mother | Sancha of Aybar |
Ramiro I (bef. 1007 – 8 May 1063) was the firstKing of Aragon from 1035 until his death. His kingdomship was petit, and unfederated, which was sometimes referred to as apetty kingdom. Although his legacy was a minor kingdom, he would expand the nascentKingdom of Aragon through his acquisition of territories, such asSobrarbe,Ribagorza and the city ofSangüesa.Sancho Ramírez was his son, and was successor to the throne. Therefore, becoming the King of Aragon. He also becameKing of Pamplona.
Apparently born before 1007, he was the illegitimate son ofSancho III of Pamplona by his mistress Sancha of Aybar.[1] Ramiro was reputed to have been adopted by his father's wifeMuniadona after he was the only one of his father's children to come to her aid when needed, although there is no surviving record of these events and the story is probablyapocryphal.
During his father's reign, he appeared as witness of royal charters starting in 1011, and was given numerous properties in thecounty of Aragon, and by the division of Sancho's realm on the latter's death in 1035, the county of Aragon fell to Ramiro with the title ofbaiulus or steward. This was part of what would prove to be a larger division:Navarre and theBasque country went to eldest half-brotherGarcía, thecounty of Castile was held byFerdinand, while the counties ofSobrarbe andRibagorza fell toGonzalo and Ramiro received lands in Aragon to hold under García.
Ramiro's exact status is vague. He was called king by his vassals, neighbors, the church and even his sons, yet he always referred to himself simply asRanimiro Sancioni regis filio (Ramiro, son of King Sancho). Likewise, in his two wills, he refers to his lands as having been given him in stewardship: in the first by García, and in the second by God. He is calledregulus (rather thanrex used for García) andquasi pro rege (acting as if king) in charters fromNavarre.[2] Due to his growing independence and the small size of hisPyrenean holdings, he is sometimes called a "petty king", Aragon a "pocket kingdom".
Ramiro sought to enlarge his lands at the expense of both theMoors and his brother, García, the King ofNavarre. Shortly after the death of his father (the date variously placed from 1036 to 1043), he supported the emir ofTudela in an invasion of the Navarre. While he was defeated in theBattle of Tafalla, he still was able to gain territory, includingSanguesa, and established a state of semi-autonomy. In 1043, apparently with the approval of García, he annexed Sobrarbe and Ribagorza, previously held by his youngest legitimate half-brother, Gonzalo.[3] This union created a pseudo-independent Aragonese state, with its capital atJaca, that would give rise to theKingdom of Aragon.
After annexation of Ribagorza and Sobrarbe, Ramiro began the advance from Aragon toward Huesca and Zaragoza. The first charter for the royal town of Jaca is attributed to him. It included well defined laws of protection even to non-residents, and would set an example for urban rights until late in the Middle Ages.
Ramiro died at theBattle of Graus in 1063 while trying to take the city.[4] He was buried at the monastery ofSan Juan de la Peña, inSanta Cruz de la Serós.
Before he was married, Ramiro had a mistress named Amuña (Amunna) with whom he had an illegitimate son,Sancho,[5] in whom he confided the government of the county of Ribagorza. Via a son García of Aybar and Atarés, Count Sancho was grandfather ofPedro de Atarés, a candidate to succeedAlfonso the Battler.
Ramiro's first wife wasGisberga, daughter ofBernard Roger of Bigorre, on 22 August 1036.[6] She changed her name to Ermesinda on marrying him. Together the couple had five children:
Ramiro's second wife wasAgnes (Inés), perhaps a daughter of theDuke of Aquitaine. No children are known from this marriage.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Ramiro I of Aragon Born: before 1007 Died: 8 May 1063 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | King of Aragon 1035–1063 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
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