Favila of Asturias

Fafila, Favila, or Favilac (died 739) was the second King of Asturias from 737 until his death. He was the only son and successor of Pelagius, the first Asturian monarch. In 737 he founded the church of Santa Cruz, probably in his capital of Cangas de Onís, but asides from this, nothing else about his reign is known.

He was said to have been killed by a bear on a hunt, a story that gave rise to the Spanish saying "espabila, Favila, que viene el oso" ("hurry up, Favila, the bear is coming") which urges someone to realise his intentions before it is too late. The hunt was probably a political tool for fostering political ties within his court, a common medieval practice. Nonetheless, later chroniclers criticised him as given over to excessive "levitas" (levity).

Favila was buried with his wife Froiliuba in Cangas. According to the foundation inscription of Santa Cruz, he left children, but they did not succeed him. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Alfonso.

References

*Collins, Roger. "The Arab Conquest of Spain, 710–97". Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1989. ISBN 0 631 15923 1.

s-ttl|title=King of Asturias
years=737–739