Diego Rodríguez Porcelos

Who was Diego Rodríguez Porcelos?

Diego Rodríguez Porcelos, was the second Count of Castile, succeeding his father Rodrigo. He did not govern Álava, however, as his father had done, since this responsibility fell on Count Vela Jiménez. Between 882 and 884 and under the mandate of King Alfonso III of Asturias, he was in charge of the repoblación of Burgos and Ubierna.

Shortly before 882, he built a castle in Pancorbo from where he confronted a large Arab army trying to annex the valley of the Ebro in two different military campaigns in 882 and 883. He also created a defensive line along the river Arlanzón. It also appears he restored the episcopal see of Oca.

His date and place of death are not agreed upon by the chronicles, though 885 is most probable as recorded in the Chronica Naierensis which states that Didacus comes...et interfectus est in Cornuta era DCCCCXXIII, secundo kalendas febroarii, that is, that he was killed in Cornudilla on 31 January, and most likely, in a battle against the Muslim troops faithfull to the Banu Qasi. Nevertheless, other historians, such as Justo Pérez de Urbel give 890 as his decease date. His body, however, was suppossedly buried in the hermitage of San Felices de Oca. After his death, Castile was divided by his successors into many counties until 932.