Beni Alfons or
Banu Alfonso is the
Arabic name of the
Asturian or
Astur-Leonese dynasty (
dinastía asturiana or
astur-leonesa), which ruled
Asturias,
Galicia, and
León from about 740 until 1037. The name "Beni Alfons" means "sons of Alfonso", and they are so named after the first king of the dynasty,
Alfonso I, son of Duke
Peter of Cantabria. For the first century, rule alternated between Alfonso's descendants and those of his brother,
Fruela of Cantabria. With the death of
Alfonso II a century later, a younger branch of the family took the throne, headed by
Ramiro I. For most of the 10th century, internecine squabbles resulted in divided rule and succession struggles among various branches of the family, which were brought to an end by the succession of
Bermudo II in 984. The rule of the dynasty ended with the defeat and death of
Bermudo III in 1037, the throne passing via his sister to
Ferdinand I of León.