RAMIRO ([790]-1 Feb 850, bur Oviedo). The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that "Ramiro son of the prince Vermudo" was elected king after the death of King Alfonso II, although his succession was challenged by Nepociano whom he defeated[99]. He was elected to succeed King Alfonso I in 842 as RAMIRO I King of Asturias. "Ranemirus Rex et…coniuncta Urraca Regina et filio nostro Rege Ordonio et fratre meo Rege Garsia" donated property to the church of Santiago by charter "VIII Kal Jun" dated to 844[100]. The Vikings invaded Galicia in 844 but were expelled by King Ramiro from "Farum Brecantium" (probably La Coruña), from where they went south and attacked Seville[101]. The Chronicon Albeldense records that "Lordomani" (=the Normans) first came to Asturias during Ramiro´s reign[102]. The Chronicle of Alfonso III states that King Ramiro died "after the seventh year of his reign…as a result of natural illness" and was buried at Oviedo[103]. The Chronicon Albeldense records that "Ranemirus" was buried at Oviedo "Kal Feb 850" after reigning for seven years[104]. The Chronicon Compostellani records that "Ranemirus" reigned five years and eight months[105]. m firstly ([before 830]) URRACA, daughter of --- (-[842/44]). "Ranemirus Rex et…coniuncta Urraca Regina et filio nostro Rege Ordonio et fratre meo Rege Garsia" donated property to the church of Santiago by charter "VIII Kal Jun" dated to 844[106]. This first marriage is confirmed from the likely birth date of Ramiro's son Ordoño in [830] and the reference in the Chronicle of Alfonso III to the king's marriage around the time of his accession (842). m secondly ([842/44]) PATERNA, daughter of --- (-bur Oviedo). She is named as wife of King Ramiro in the inscription commemorating the foundation of the church of Santa María del Narranco dated 848[107]. Barrau-Dihigo[108] refers to an epitaph naming "Urraca" as wife of "King Ramiro" (without specifying which King Ramiro). It appears that Salazar y Castro[109] deduced from this information that Paterna was King Ramiro's first wife and that his second wife was Urraca, daughter of Diego Rodríguez Conde de Castilla, but this is clearly impossible chronologically given the likely birth date range of Conde Diego. The Chronicle of Alfonso III records that, when elected as king, Ramiro was away having "travelled to the province of Vardulias to take a wife"[110], presumably dating this marriage to 842. Pérez de Urbel states that, for the early Christian chroniclers, "Vardulias" covered what was later Castile[111]. This must have been King Ramiro's second marriage considering the likely birth date of his eldest son.