Egica

Who was Egica?

Egica, Ergica, or Egicca was the Visigoth King of Hispania and Septimania from 687 until his death. He was the son of Ariberga, and the brother in law of Wamba.

He was married to Cixilo, Cixilona, Cioxillo or Cixila, the daughter of his royal predecessor Erwig and wife Liuvigoto, who, on his deathbed on 14 November 687, confirmed Egica as his heir and sent him with the royal court to Toledo to be crowned. There he was anointed on 24 November. Upon Ergica's marriage to Cixilo, Erwig had made him swear an oath to protect Erwig's children. Before his death Erwig required a second oath, swearing not to deny justice to the people. Shortly after taking the throne, Ergica called the Fifteenth Council of Toledo on 11 May 688, at which he claimed the two oaths were contradictory and asked the council of bishops to release him from one or the other. Egica, however, met the opposition of Julian of Toledo. When the council allowed Egica to abandon his wife but only partially rescinded the oath to protect Erwig's children, Ergica waited until Julian's death to call a second provincial council of Tarraconensis, which resulted in Erwig's widow, Liuvigoto, being sent to a convent.