The origin of Rodrigo is unknown. He is referred to as Rodrigo, son of Ramiro I King of Asturias by Fernández de Béthencourt, presumably premised on Ramiro's second wife being Urraca de Castilla. This is chronologically impossible as Rodrigo is documented in 852 as conde, only ten years after the date of King Ramiro's second marriage. According to Pérez de Urbel, Rodrigo's appointment as conde in Castilla suggests some relationship with the royal family, maybe through Paterna, second wife of King Ramiro I. King Ordoño I appointed him to defend the eastern frontier of Asturias, replacing the previously appointed judges who ruled the country, although it appears that his rule as Conde de Castilla was limited to the area north of the Santander mountains.
He is named as Conde en Castilla in the 852 foundation charter of San Martín de Ferrán, and in the [866/73] foundation charter of San Martín de Escalada. The Chronicon Burgense records that “Rodericus comes” populated Amaya in 860 “per mandatum Regis Ordonii”. He confirmed a charter of the monastery of San Millán de Salcedo dated 18 Apr 873. The dating clause of a charter dated 29 May 873, under which "senior Didaco Ovecoz...cum uxore mea domna Guntroda" donated the churches of Santa María de Fresno and San Andrés de Treviana to the monastery of San Mamés, records "principe...Adefonso in Oveto et comite Roderico in Castella". 1
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