Ordoño I: The First Hereditary King of Asturias

On January 1, 850, Ordoño I succeeds his father, Ramiro I, as King of Asturias. Unlike his predecessors, who were elected by the Asturian nobility, Ordoño ascends the throne as his father’s heir, making him the first Asturian king to inherit the crown without election.

Early Challenges: The Basque Rebellion and the Banu Qasi

Ordoño’s reign begins with immediate military challenges. His first confrontation is with the Basques, who rebel with the support of the Banu Qasi of Zaragoza, a powerful Muslim dynasty of Muladi origin that frequently shifted alliances between Christians and the Emirate of Córdoba.

Ordoño marches against the rebels and successfully defeats them, restoring control over the region.

Victory Against the Moors at the Ebro

While returning to Oviedo after his victory, Ordoño receives urgent news of an impending Moorish attack on Vardulia (part of modern Castile). Rather than waiting for the enemy to strike, Ordoño intercepts the Muslim forces near the Ebro River and decisively defeats them, securing his realm’s northern frontier.

These early military successes solidify Ordoño’s rule and mark the continuation of Asturian resistance against both Muslim incursions and internal uprisings.