Cixilo of the Visigoths

• Daughter of Ervigio, King of the Visigoths and Liubigotona
• Cixilo (7th-century – fl. 694) was a Visigoth queen consort by marriage to king Egica (687–702).
• She was the daughter of Erwig and Liuvigoto. She married Egica in 670. She was repudiated in 687. She was, however, only temporary moved to a convent, and allowed to returned and resinstated as queen, being attested in 691 as well as 694.
• Wittiza was Ergica's son by Cixilo, daughter of the previous king Erwig, who was dismissed by her husband in late 687 after a short marriage and thus puts a limit on the possible date of birth of Wittiza.

Project MedLands, VANDALS, SUEVI & VISIGOTHS

WAMBA (-after 687[331], bur [Villa Gérticos], transferred 13th century to Toledo[332]). On the death of King Recesvinto in 672, he was acclaimed as WAMBA King of the Visigoths at Gérticos, where his predecessor had died, without waiting to be elected in Toledo in line with previous practice although he was anointed as king at Toledo 19 Sep 672[333]. The History of King Wamba was written by Julian Bishop of Toledo in [675][334], reviewed in detail by Teillet[335]. The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum records the accession of "Wamba" and his reign of 8 years[336]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Wamba was elected king "in the era 710 (672)" but "at first declined, not wanting to assume power, but he finally accepted against his will what the army requested…was taken to Toledo and anointed king in the church of St Mary"[337]. In Summer 673, King Wamba suppressed the revolt of Paulus, whom the king had sent to Septimania to suppress another rebellion, punishing the culprits severely[338]. He introduced compulsory military service, with property confiscation and loss of civil rights for non-attendance. King Wamba was deposed by Ervigio in 680 and retired to the monastery of Pampliega near Burgos. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Ervigio gave Wamba "a herb called spartus to drink and immediately Wamba's memory was taken away", recording that after he recovered Wamba retired to a monastery where he lived for seven years and three months and "died a natural death in the era 719 (681)"[339]. Laterculus regum Visigothorum records the death "Id Oct aera 718" of "Wamba"[340]. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Wamba Rex” reigned for eight years, one month, and 14 days, and died “pridie Id Oct 719”[341].

2. [--- . m ---.] One child:

• a) EGICA (-Toledo end 702). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "the nobleman Egica, nephew of Wamba" when recording his marriage[342]. [same person as...? EGICA (-after Nov 683). Dux. “...Egica comes scanciarum et dux...” subscribed the document dated Nov 683 which records the acts of the concilium of Toledo XIII[343]. García Moreno, in his Prosopografía del reino visigodo de Toledo, suggest that dux Egica was the same person as King Egica[344].] Egica was one of the chief opponents of King Ervigio, whose daughter he married, and who nominated him as his successor as a means of maintaining power. He was elected to succeed his father-in-law in 687 as EGICA King of the Visigoths. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Egica” was anointed king “in ecclesia sanctorum Petri et Pauli Prætoriensis…VIII Kal Dec…era 725”[345]. After his accession, he forced his predecessor's queen to retire to a nunnery. He was faced with numerous rebellions from among the nobility, which he punished severely[346]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Egica ruled for "ten years before the accession of his son and five more years with his son as co-ruler [and]…died a natural death in Toledo"[347]. married ([681/86], repudiated [687]%29 CIXILO the Visigoth, daughter of ERVIGIO King of the Visigoths & his wife Liubigotona ([663/65]-). The Chronicle of Alfonso III records the marriage of "the nobleman Egica, nephew of Wamba" and "Ervig…his daughter Cixilo"[348]. Her birth date range is estimated from (1) the estimated birth and marriage dates of her father, based on the arrival of her grandfather in Spain during the reign of King Chindasvinto, and (2) the birth of her son Witiza before her repudiation. Given this tight birth date range, it is likely that Cixilo was her father's eldest child. Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by the charter dated to [680/86] which records that "socer noster Ervigius princeps…domina mea Leuvitona regina" granted "filiam suam" as wife of "Egicæ regis"[349]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records her repudiation "when [King Ervigio] ascended the throne"[350].

King Egica and his wife CIXILO had two children:

• i) WITIZA ([681/86]-Toledo early 710). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "Witiza" as the son of Egica and his wife, born before her repudiation[351]. He was elected to succeed his father in 702 as WITIZA King of the Visigoths.
  
• ii) OPPA (-after 722). The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum names "Oppam filium Egiche regis"[352]. In the Chronicle of Alfonso III, he is described as Bishop of Toledo and son of King Witiza[353], but this is chronologically impossible considering the likely birth date ranges of Witiza's sons. Bishop of Seville. The Chronicle of 754 records that "in the era 749 (711)…Oppa, King Egica's son" helped Musa "arresting [the noble lords] in their flight from Toledo"[354]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that he was captured by Pelayo King of Asturias in [722] after the battle of Covadonga, following an attempt to negotiate on behalf of the Muslims
  

Project MedLands, VANDALS, SUEVI and VISIGOTHS

ARDABASTO, son of --- . The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that "Ardabastus came from Greece after being expelled from his country by the emperor…arrived in Spain" and was "received…magnificently" by King Chindasvinto who gave him his niece in marriage[356]. His parentage is unknown, although this passage suggests that he must have been a person of importance in Byzantium. Salazar y Castro, in his genealogical table of the Visigothic kings, shows "Atanagildo" as the son of Hermenegildo, as well as his marriage to "Flavia Juliana hija de Pedro Augusto, hermano del Emperador Mauricio", and their sons "Paulo" and "Ardavasto", as well as the latter´s marriage to "prima, hija o hermana del Rey Cindasuindo"[357] (see above). The primary sources on which these statements are based are not specified. The table includes numerous errors and the information should therefore be viewed with caution. The name "Ardabasto" suggests a connection with Armenia, "Artavazd" being one of the names used frequently in the Mamikonian family of Armenia, holders of the hereditary position "sparapet" [supreme general] between the 5th and 8th centuries[358]. There could also be a connection with Artabasdos (-before 772), strategos of the theme of Armenia, who in 717 married Anna, daughter of Emperor Leon III "the Isaurian". married ([642]%29 --- of the Visigoths, niece of CHINDASVINTO King of the Visigoths, daughter of ---. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records the marriage of "Ardabastus…from Greece" and the niece of King Chindasvinto[359]. The marriage must have taken place very early in the reign of King Chindasvinto given the tight possible birth date range of the couple´s granddaughter Cixilo.

Ardabasto and his wife had [two] children:

• 1. ERVIGIO ([643]-Toledo 15 Nov 687). The Chronicle of Alfonso III names "Ervig" as the son of "Ardabastus…from Greece" & his wife[360]. His birth date is estimated from his parents´ assumed marriage date range, working back from the tight birth date range assigned to his daughter Cixilo. He was brought up at the court of King Recesvinto, where he used the title "comes"[361]. After deposing King Wamba in 680, he was elected to succeed as ERVIGIO King of the Visigoths. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Ervigius” succeeded “Id Oct 719” and was anointed “XII Kal Nov”[362]. The Continuator of Isidor's Historia Gothorum, Wandalorum, Sueborum records the accession of "Ervigius" and his reign of 7 years[363]. In light of the dubious circumstances of his accession, he married his daughter to his most powerful opponent whom he nominated as his successor, by-passing his own sons[364]. The sons of King Ervigio must have been minors at the time if the chronology of events shown above is correct. In 681, he revised and enlarged the Liber iudiciorum compiled by his predecessor King Recesvinto[365]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that Ervigio "died a natural death in Toledo" having ruled six years and four months[366]. The Chronica Regum Visigotthorum records that “Ervigius” reigned for seven years and 25 days, and died “XVII Kal Dec”[367]. married ([662]%29 LIUBIGOTONA, daughter of ---. Her marriage is confirmed by the charter dated to [680/86] which records that "socer noster Ervigius princeps…domina mea Leuvitona regina" granted "filiam suam" as wife of "Egicæ regis"[368]. According to Europäische Stammtafeln[369] she was Liubigotona the Visigoth, daughter of Suíntila King of the Visigoths, but the primary source on which this is based has not yet been identified. If this parentage is correct, she would have been considerably older than her husband, given the death of her supposed father in 633. Salazar y Castro, in his genealogical table of the Visigothic kings, shows "Liubigtobona nieta de Recaredo" as the wife of King Ervigio and mother of his children[370]. The primary source on which this statement is based are not specified. The table includes numerous errors and the information should therefore be viewed with caution. Her husband's successor forced his predecessor's widow to retire to a nunnery[371].

Ervigio & his wife had [three or more] children:

• a) CIXILO ([663/65]-). The Chronicle of Alfonso III records the marriage of "the nobleman Egica, nephew of Wamba" and "Ervig…his daughter Cixilo"[372]. Her birth date range is estimated from (1) the estimated birth and marriage dates of her father, based on the arrival of her grandfather in Spain during the reign of King Chindasvinto, and (2) the birth of her son Witiza before her repudiation. Given this tight birth date range, it is likely that Cixilo was her father's eldest child. Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by the charter dated to [680/86] which records that "socer noster Ervigius princeps…domina mea Leuvitona regina" granted "filiam suam" as wife of "Egicæ regis"[373]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records her repudiation "when [King Ervigio] ascended the throne"[374]. married ([681/86], repudiated [688]%29 EGICA, nephew of WAMBA ex-King of the Visigoths, son of --- (-[701/02]). He was elected to succeed his father-in-law in 687 as EGICA King of the Visigoths.
  
• b) sons. The primary source which confirms their parentage has not yet been identified, although Falcón records that King Ervigio by-passed his own sons when nominating his son-in-law Egica as his successor[375].
  
• c) [VERMUDO . Salazar y Castro, in his genealogical table of the Visigothic kings, shows "Veremundo Duque de Cantabria" and "Pedro Duque de Cantabria" as the sons of King Ervigio[376]. The primary sources on which these statements are based are not specified. The table includes numerous errors and the information should therefore be viewed with caution.
  
• d) [PEDRO . Salazar y Castro, in his genealogical table of the Visigothic kings, shows "Veremundo Duque de Cantabria" and "Pedro Duque de Cantabria" as the sons of King Ervigio[377]. The primary sources on which these statements are based are not specified. The table includes numerous errors and the information should therefore be viewed with caution. The Chronicle of Alfonso III describes his son, Alfonso I King of Asturias, as "of the royal line" without specifying his ancestry[378]. The Historia Silense names "Petrus ex Recaredi…Gotorum principis progenie"[379], although Pedro's descent from King Recaredo I cannot be established. It is assumed that this alleged family relationship with the Visigoths is another example of an invention by later genealogists wishing to fill the information gaps left by the primary sources. Duque de Cantabria[380].]
  

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Links

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egica
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdom
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cixilo
• https://catalinaofaragon.tumblr.com/post/190503324267/list-of-visig...
• https://thesignsofthetimes.com.au/31/58038.htm
• http://www.abcgenealogia.com/Godos00.html

Sources

• Collins, Roger. The Arab Conquest of Spain, 710–97. Oxford University Press, 1989.
• Collins, Roger. Visigothic Spain, 409–711. Blackwell Publishing, 2004.
• Thompson, E. A.. The Goths in Spain. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969.
• Collins, Visigothic Spain, 105.
• Collins, Visigothic Spain, 72.
• Orlandis Rovira J. La reina en la Monarquia visigoda // Anuario de Historia del Derecho Español. — 1957—1958. — № 27—28. — P. 109—135. — ISSN 0304-4319.