Aritza
King Eneko Aritza (Iñigo Iñiguez Arista, in Basque, Eneko Aritza) (c. 781–852) was the first King of Navarre in the 9th century.
He was apparently also count of Bigorre and Sobrarbe.
His parents were Íñigo Jiménez and Oneca.
Eneko's elder brother or kinsman, Garcia Jimenez, (had) held a veritable principality in Vasconia, the original Navarre.
After the death of his father, his mother married secondly Musá ibn Fortún, Lord of Banu Qasi, Muslim king of Tudela, who was one of the lords of Valley of Ebro. This marriage made Eneko influential over large territories in the Pyrenean valleys. Additionally, the clan of Banu Qasi controlled a long stretch of the fertile valley of the river Ebro.
The family of Velasco was a rival of Eneko and the Banu Qasi and the nucleus of the pro-French party in northern Spain. In 799, the pro-French party assassinated Mutarrif ibn Muza, Governor of Pamplona, who belonged to the family of Banu Qasi. A Velasco became governor and the French controlled Navarrese territories.
In 824 French counts Elbe and Aznar made another expedition against Pamplona. This led Eneko overthrow the Franks and pronounce the Kingdom of Pamplona. Eneko was a "Christicolae princeps" (Christian prince), according to Eulogio de Córdoba. This kingdom combined both Muslims and Christians to maintain independence against outside powers.
Abd al-Rahman II of Cordoba made some reprisal against Pamplona.
In 841 Eneko fell victim to paralysis. His son Garcia Iniguez acted as regent.
Eneko died in 851 or 852, and apparently was succeeded by his kinsman Jimeno Garces, lord, holder of Alava etc, apparently simultaneous ruler in Vasconia, now also king of Pamplona, thus uniting the two independent Basque terrotories. Eneko, however, also left a son, Garcia Iñiguez, who managed to become the sole king in c. 860. The Basque dynasty (in form of the Jimenez line) ruled Navarre from the 9th century to 1234. Eneko's own male line lost the throne in 905. Later kings of Pamplona were Eneko's descendants through the female line. Variations in the spelling of this Basque surname are Arista and Aiza.
Eneko married Oneca Velázquez, daughter of don Velasco, lord of Pamplona, and had following children:
- Assona Íñiguez, wife of Musa ibn Musa ibn Fortún, lord of Tudela and Huesca.
- García Íñiguez, the future king.
- Galindo Íñiguez of Pamplona, father of:
- Musa Ibn Galindo, Walí of Huesca 860, assassinated in 870 in Córdoba.
- Nunila, wife of count García “el Malo” (the Bad) of Aragón.
| King of Navarre | Succeeded by: Garcia Iñiguez |