He is also said to have been the son of Peter, duke of Cantabria.
The Catholics everywhere preferred either Roman, Suevian or Frankish rule to that of the heretical Goths; even the unconquerable mountaineers of Cantabria seem for a while to have received a Frankish governor.
Castile, by its geographical position as the centre of Spain from Cantabria to the Sierra Morena, was the forefront of the struggle with the Moors.
Other parts of Europe had those who designated themselves Celtic, including parts of Spain (Galacia and Cantabria).