Pruspes Quixada

Pruspes Elizondo Quixada Penemar (April 30, 1287 – August 1, 1333) was the last Count of Otero and last provincial general of Watan as a tributary state to Ventora. After losing the tributary hold over Watan in a sabre duel with the Watanese prince Fábio Gorres Jaoa Linama, Quixada finished his life in relative obscurity.

Early life
Born April 30, 1287 in Vizefe, Otero, Pruspes was the first child to Gaspar Quixada Antúñez, Count of Otero, and Yaselin Penemar Gallego. He was privately tutored and reportedly a notable swordsman.

Career
As first-born, Pruspes became the reigning Count of Otero upon his father's death in 1319. Pruspes was prominent in affairs of the Challuyo, where Otero was the western-most county. He also developed some reputation in military matters along the border with Watan.

Provincial general of Watan
Because of his reputation in both politics and military matters, as well as some knowledge of Watan, Ventoran King appointed Pruspes as provincial general over the Watanese tributary state in 1324. He soon took up residence in the Palace of Queluz, inserting himself into the city's society. Although known as a benevolent overseer, Pruspes's personality was somewhat abrasive due to his apparent self-importance. As a result, the relationship between Pruspes and Watan's Prince Fábio became strained.

Duel of 1328
After some months of growing animosity toward Quixada, Prince Fábio challenged the provincial general to a duel. At first Quixada declined, but agreed as the prince played into Quixaada's personality. The stakes of the duel were the end of Watan's tributary relationship to Ventora if the prince won or the payment of 15,000 Ventoran standards and Fábio's best horse if Quixada prevailed. The pair met on horseback in a secluded field on the morning of May 16, 1328. They were accompanied by only a handful guards, medical crew, and witnesses. The duel lasted only four seconds before Prince Fábio stabbed Quixada in the upper torso, disarming him and rendering him unfit to continue fighting.

Loss of the duel by Quixada was not well received by Ventoran King Seve. After considering continuing Watan's status as a tributary by force of arms, Seve agreed to accept the terms of the duel. While claiming to do so as a matter of honor in recognizing the tradition of dueling, in reality Seve did not have enough support at home to form an army to occupy Watan.

Legacy
Prince Fábio's victory in the duel resulted in Watanese independence and Fábio becoming king. Today, Watan marks May 16th, the date of the duel, as a holiday.

After Quixada's injury was treated and stabilized, he returned home a few days later. He was summoned to appear before King Seve and did so on May 21st. King Seve first elevated him to in order to make Otero a duchy because the king had no direct control over a county, which owed fealty to its duke. Seve then immediately folded the Duchy of Otero into the Duchy of, thereby ending Otero's existence as a polity. Seve further stripped Quixada of his title and removed him from the rolls of the. He died in relative obscurity at Vizefe on August 1, 1333.

Popular culture
In the, the term el otero refers to a blunder or a folly. The exact origins of the term are debated, but several scholars attribute it to Brais de Fecante Pereyra, Duke of, who was embittered by the loss of the lands of the former county of Otero to the neighboring duchy of Castellano. He is reputed to have said "no cometas un otero" ("do not commit an otero") to one of his sons who wanted to sail around the world. The remark was, ostensibly, a reference to Quixada's belief he could not lose the duel, a folly that cost him his title, reputation, and all his lands but his ancestral home.