Lecture 5 - The Christian Kingdoms Flashcards
Key aspects discussed in this class:
Four main Christian kingdoms will eventually dominate the Iberian Peninsula:
They will emerge from two original areas:
what are the Four main Christian kingdoms will eventually dominate the Iberian Peninsula:
The Kingdom of Portugal
The Crown of Castile (a merger of the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Leon)
The Crown of Aragon (a merger of the Kingdom of Aragon and the Catalan Counties)
The Kingdom of Navarre
the 4 main christian kingdoms will emerge from two original areas:
The kingdom of Asturias in the North
The Carolingian Hispanic March (Marca Hispánica) in the North-east
The Beginnings (I): The Kingdom of Asturias what are the origins
Founded in 718 by Don Pelayo, who will become the first King
where is the kingdom of asturias located
Established in the Cantabrian Mountains, especially in the area of the Picos de Europa and the central part of Asturias – it included the fomer lands of the Cantabri, Astures, Lugones
what is an important battle of the beginnings (I) The Kingdom of Asturias
Muslim army is defeated in 714 at the battle of Covadonga – This ensures the survival of the kingdom and the arrival of Christians Visigoths from the south
- Covadonga – or Cova Dominica (Cave of our Lady) – The cult to the Virgin will play a fundamental role in the history of Spain
apparently the virgin mary appears and tells them all will be okay
when was the kingdom was the kingdom firmly established and its connection with the old Visigoth monarchy affirmed (The Beginnings (I): The Kingdom of Asturias)
It was not until King Alfonso II (791-842) that the kingdom was firmly established and its connection with the old Visigoth monarchy affirmed – It expands to the West (Galicia) and to the East (Basque Country)
where was the capital of the kingdom of asturias
The capital of the kingdom will originally be situated in Cangas de Onis (Asturias) – As the kingdom expanded, it was moved to Oviedo and later on to Leon – It then became the Kingdom of Leon
explain The “Prince of Asturias” today
Asturias is today a Principality “belonging” to the Heir of the Spanish throne due to its prominent role in the history of the Christian kingdoms
The Beginnings: The Carolingian Marca Hispánica (Hispanic March)
what is the origins
Starting in 760, The Franks created the Marca Hispanica (Hispanic March) by conquering former north-eastern territory of the Visigothic kingdom of Hispania that was under Muslim rule
what is the objective of The Carolingian Marca Hispánica (Hispanic March)
The Carolingian empire established the Marca Hispánica (or Hispanic March) as a buffer zone between the Empire and Al-Andalus
explain the Political/Cultural Multiplicity of the Carolingian Marca Hispánica (Hispanic March)
It was made of a multiplicity of local lordships or counts under Frankish rule (nominally at least) – Population varied from one territorial entity to the next, and included Basques, former Goths, Muslims, and Jews. After the death of Charlemagne, These lordships/counties are going to coalesce into three larger territorial units:
what were the three larger territorial units:
The Carolingian Marca Hispánica (Hispanic March)
- The Kingdom of Pamplona
(Which will become the
Kingdom of Navarra) - The Kingdom of Aragon
- The Catalan counties (under
the
Rule of the Count of Barcelona)
explain the origins of The Kingdom of Castile and Leon
Originally a County dependent of the Kingdom of Leon (former Kingdom of Asturias) - Annexed by the Kingdom of Pamplona by King Sancho III – It became an independent Kingdom after 1035 as a result of the testamentary dispositions of King Sancho III
explain The Crown of Castile
The Kingdom of Castile will merge with the Kingdom of Leon in 1230 as the stronger of the two - The Cortes (medieval “parliaments”) of Castile and Leon will merge into one creating the Crown of Castile
why is Toledo important to The Kingdom of Castile and Leon
In 1085 King Alphonse III of Leon conquers Toledo – It becomes a major cultural and administrative center under Alfonso X “The Wise” – The paradigmatic case of the Spain of the Three cultures (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) under Christian Rule
explain the economy of The Kingdom of Castile and Leon
Varies according the territory:
Northern Castile (small holdings, agrarian)
Southern Castile (larger holdings, pastoral)
Importance of the wool trade
More sophisticated goods produced in cities such as Burgos, Leon, and Toledo
Trade links with other Christian kingdoms in the Peninsula, with Al-Andalus, and with Northern Europe
explain the society of The Kingdom of Castile and Leon
Powerful aristocratic class based on control of territory and war
The nobility limits and challenges the power of the King
Those settled in Northern Castille (of Visigoth, Cantabri, Asture origin are frequently considered “hidalgos” (free men equivalent to “gentlemen”) –
In Southern Castile serfdom starts to develop
Castile will become the biggest and most powerful of the Christian kingdoms by the beginning of the 15th Century
explain the origins of The Kingdom of Aragon
Originated in the Carolingian Hispanic March as a lordship or county – As Castile, it became part of the Kingdom of Pamplona– On the death of Sancho III in 1035, it was given to one of his children and became an independent kingdom
explain The Crown of Aragon
The Catalan counties and the Kingdom of Aragon merge in 1150 with the dynastic union resulting from the marriage of the Princess of Aragon (Petronilla) and the Count of Barcelona (Ramon Berenguer IV). This starts the Crown of Aragon
explain the Territorial expansion of the kingdom of aragon
At the height of its power in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Crown of Aragon controlled a large portion of present-day eastern Spain, parts of what is now southern France, and a Mediterranean “empire” which included the Balearic Islands, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Southern Italy (from 1442) and parts of Greece (until 1388)
explain the Politics of the kingdom of aragon
The component realms of the Crown were NOT united politically except at the level of the king, who ruled over each autonomous polity according to its own laws, raising funds under each tax structure, dealing separately with each Corts or Cortes (Medieval “Parliaments”).
explain the economy of The Kingdom of Aragon
Trade with other Mediterranean peoples and with Italy was important –Small holdings were important especially in the former Catalan counties and Northern Aragon
explain the society of The Kingdom of Aragon
Jews and Muslims communities continued to live under Christian rule in the Kingdom of Aragon
what is the geography of The Kingdom of Pamplona/Navarre
Originally known as the Kingdom of Pamplona (its main city) –As Aragon, It had its origins in the Hispanic March - occupied some of the lands that are Navarre and the Basque country today
what is the Relevance of the kingdom of Pamplona/Navarre
Under King Sancho III (995-1035) it will reach the peak of its power having annexed Castile and invaded Leon – He also ruled the county of Aragon – He will divide his possessions among his sons
why is the kingdom of pamplona/navarre A disputed territory
The Kingdom of Navarre would be under French rule in the 14th and 15th centuries – Both Aragon and Castile are going to be involved in territorial disputes
explain the integration of The Kingdom of Pamplona/Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre became part of the Crown of Castile and Aragon in the 16th Century
explain the Autonomy of The Kingdom of Pamplona/Navarre
The institutions of Navarre maintained their autonomy until the 19th century - . Similar institutions existed in the Crown of Aragon (in Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia) until the 18th century. The Spanish king was represented by a viceroy, who could object to the decisions made in the Navarrese context.
what is the key of the Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre could have been the stone upon which to create a unified Christian kingdom, but King Sancho III divided his kingdom among his sons, which gave rise to the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon that would eventually control much of the Iberian Peninsula and eventually merge
explain the origin of The Kingdom of Portugal
The County of Portugal, established in the 9th century as part of the Reconquista, by Vímara Peres, a vassal of the King of Asturias
explain the love and treason that happened with The Kingdom of Portugal
It became an independent kingdom under Henry of Burgundy, a crusader who had married one of the daughters of Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon – Henry rebelled after his wife was disinherited by his father – Attacked the kingdom of Leon
explain how The Kingdom of Portugal was an independent kingdom
Following Henry’s rebellion, the Counts of Portugal established themselves as rulers of an independent kingdom in the 12th century
explain the dynastic union of The Kingdom of Portugal
It will exist as an independent kingdom –but with strong ties to Castile- until 1580 when it will merge with the Spanish Crown until 1640, bringing the entire Iberian Peninsula, as well as Spanish and Portuguese overseas possessions, under the Spanish Habsburg kings Philip II, Philip III and Philip IV.
what is the key of The Kingdom of Portugal
The period between 1580 and 1640 was the last time that the entire Iberian Peninsula has been unified politically
You do not need to memorize the dates for the exam, but you need to know:
What kingdoms emerged from the old kingdom of Asturias:
What kingdoms emerged from the Carolingian Spanish March:
The role of King Sancho III of Navarre:
What kingdoms emerged from the old kingdom of Asturias:
Castile, Leon, Portugal
What kingdoms emerged from the Carolingian Spanish March
Navarre, Aragon, Catalan counties
what was The role of King Sancho III of Navarre:
e agglomerated the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon under the hegemony of the Kingdom of Navarre, but he decided to divide those three kingdoms under their sons
The history of Medieval Spain would have been very different if he had not done so.
Eventually, Castile would emerge as the unifying force of Spain.
