Ava of Ribagorza, Countess of Castile

Ava of Ribagorza (Catalan: Ribagorça) (fl. 988) was countess consort of Castile by marriage to García Fernández of Castile.

Life
She was born to Raymond II, Count of Ribagorza, and Garsenda Fesenzac. She married García Fernández of Castile, with whom she had several children. She participated with her spouse in several donations to various convents.

Tradition accuses her of having encouraged her son Sancho in his rebellion against his father.

Ava has been the subject of several legends that depict her in a negative light, and involve her in several of the conflicts and rebellions which occurred in Castile during the reign of her spouse. In one known legend, named la llegenda de la comtessa traïdora ('The Legend of the Traitorous Countess'), she betrayed García Fernández, who was captured in a raid by the Moors and killed, after having committed adultery with Al-Aziz Billah. According to the legend, after the death of her spouse, she attempted to poison his successor and her son by handing him a cup of poison, because she wished to marry Al-Aziz Billah; he, however, forced her to drink it herself, which resulted in her death.

The legends can probably be linked to hostility towards her as a foreigner in Castile: she is also identified as the leader of a more pacifist line at court, in opposition to the military line of her spouse against the Moors, which could also account for her bad publicity.

The date of her death is unconfirmed. It is known, that the year of 988 is the last year in which she can be confirmed alive.

Issue

 * Mayor García, married Raymond III, count of Pallars Jussà
 * Sancho García, count of Castile and Álava
 * Urraca García entered the monastery of Infantado de Covarrubias
 * Gonzalo García (died 979), speculated to have been ancestor of the House of Lara
 * Elvira García, married in 991 to Bermudo II of León
 * Toda García, married Sancho Gómez of Saldaña
 * Oneca García, married in 995 Almanzor, chamberlain of Cordoba