The Rise of the Kingdom of Asturias and Christian Resistance

For several centuries after the defeat of the Visigoths, Galicia remains politically united with neighboring regions under the same monarchs, experiencing only brief periods of separation.

By the mid-eighth century, much of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, including Galicia, remains free from Arab rule. These territories gradually become part of a growing Christian state, traditionally referred to as the Kingdom of Asturias. However, the precise historical details of these events have been obscured by later national myths, which played a role in the construction of modern Spanish identity.

Pelayo and the Founding of Asturias

In 718 CE, a group of Visigothic nobles in the small Christian polity of Asturias, centered in Oviedo, elect Pelayo (Pelagius) as their king. A Catholic noble, Pelayo is believed—though not certainly—to have been a comrade-in-arms of King Rodrigo at the Battle of Guadalete.

The Struggle Against Muslim Rule

Pelayo leads the Asturian resistance against the Moors, successfully expelling a Muslim provincial governor named Munuza from the region and establishing the Kingdom of Asturias.

Determined to crush the rebellion, the Muslims launch a campaign to destroy Pelayo’s forces. He and 300 of his menare eventually surrounded in the Asturian mountains, where they face a fierce Muslim assault.

Despite relentless attacks, Pelayo evades capture, reorganizing Christian forces and continuing the resistance, laying the foundation for what would become the Reconquista—the long process of Christian reclamation of Iberia.

The Berber Uprising in Al-Andalus (741 CE)

The coup that installed Abd al-Malik ibn Qatan al-Fihri as ruler of Al-Andalus in early 741 CE was intended as a failsafe measure to maintain stability. However, when news of the disastrous defeat at Bagdoura (in North Africa) spreads, a general Berber uprising in Spain becomes inevitable.

The Berber Mutiny and Rebellion

In October 741 CE, Berber garrisons in northwestern Galicia mutiny, overthrowing their Arab commanders, abandoning their fortifications, and forming a Berber rebel army to challenge Andalusian Arab rule in the south.

Although the names of their leaders are lost to history, the Spanish Berber rebel army is well-organized into three columns, each assigned a strategic objective:

1. One force marches on Toledo, targeting the main garrison city of the central march.
2. Another heads for Córdoba, the Umayyad capital of Al-Andalus.
3. A third advances toward Algeciras, hoping to seize the Andalusian fleet and ferry reinforcements from North Africa.

This large-scale Berber rebellion threatens to overthrow Arab dominance in Al-Andalus, ushering in a period of instability and power struggles across Muslim Spain.

The Discovery of Saint James' Remains and the Rise of Santiago de Compostela (813 CE)

According to tradition, in 813 CE, the alleged remains of the apostle James (Saint James the Great) are discovered in Galicia.

Seizing the religious and political significance of this event, King Alfonso II of Asturias orders the construction of a church on the site, enhancing the prestige of his kingdom. The site soon becomes a center of pilgrimage, attracting devout travelers from across Christendom.

Over time, the city of Santiago de Compostela develops around the shrine, eventually becoming one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe, second only to Jerusalem and Rome, and laying the foundation for the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James).

Sancho III and the Development of the Saint James Way

As part of his close relationship with the Monastery of Cluny, Sancho III of Pamplona undertakes significant improvements to the road from Gascony to León, facilitating travel across northern Iberia.

This road soon becomes a major pilgrimage route, attracting increasing numbers of pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela, the shrine of Saint James the Apostle.

Due to his efforts in improving infrastructure and promoting the Camino de Santiago, Sancho III is recognized as one of the first great patrons of the Way of Saint James, helping to establish it as a key spiritual and cultural route in medieval Europe.

Sancho II’s Expansion: The Expulsion of García and the Conquest of León (1071 CE)

In 1071 CE, Sancho II of Castile consolidates his power by expelling his younger brother, García II, from Galicia, effectively seizing control of his territory. With García forced into exile, Sancho sets his sights on an even greater prize—the Kingdom of León, ruled by his other brother, Alfonso VI.

Having already defeated Alfonso at the Battle of Llantada (1068) but failing to overthrow him, Sancho now prepares for a renewed campaign to conquer León, aiming to reunify his father’s divided realm under his sole rule.

The Legend of Saint James and the Rise of Santiago de Compostela

According to legend, Saint James the Great, one of Christ’s apostles, brought Christianity to the Celts in the Iberian Peninsula. After being beheaded in Jerusalem in 44 CE, his remains were transported to Galicia, where they were buried in a tomb.

By the 3rd century, amid Roman persecution of Christians, the tomb was abandoned and forgotten. However, in 814 CE, a hermit named Pelagius witnessed strange lights in the night sky, leading to the rediscovery of the tomb.

The Early Pilgrimage Shrine and Its Development

• Bishop Theodomirus of Iria proclaimed the event a miracle and informed King Alfonso II of Asturias and Galicia (791–842), who ordered the construction of a chapel on the site.
• Alfonso II is said to have been the first pilgrim to the shrine, marking the beginning of the Way of Saint James (Camino de Santiago).
• In 829, the first church was built, followed by a larger pre-Romanesque church in 899, commissioned by King Alfonso III of León, which spurred the growth of Santiago de Compostela as a major pilgrimage center.

Destruction by Almanzor and the Transfer of the Church Bells (997 CE)

In 997 CE, Almanzor Ibn Abi Aamir, the powerful military commander of Caliphate of Córdoba, raided and burned the church, reducing it to ashes. His Christian vassals, who accompanied the campaign, were rewarded with a share of the loot, while Saint James’ tomb and relics were left undisturbed.

As a symbol of Muslim triumph, Almanzor’s troops forced Christian captives to carry the church’s gates and bells to Córdoba, where they were incorporated into the Aljama Mosque.

(These same gates and bells would later be reclaimed by King Ferdinand III of Castile after he conquered Córdoba in 1236, at which point Muslim captives were made to carry them to Toledo, where they were installed in the Cathedral of Saint Mary.)

Construction of the Present Cathedral (1075 CE Onward)

In 1075, under the reign of Alfonso VI of Castile (1040–1109) and the patronage of Bishop Diego Peláez, construction of the present Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela began.

• The cathedral was modeled after the monastic brick church of Saint Sernin in Toulouse, considered the greatest Romanesque structure in France.
• Built primarily of granite, the cathedral solidified Santiago’s status as a major pilgrimage destination.
• The church was elevated to the status of an episcopal see, further enhancing its importance in the Christian world.

The Cathedral of Saint James would go on to become one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in medieval Europe, second only to Jerusalem and Rome, playing a pivotal role in the spiritual and cultural history of Iberia.

Raymond and Henry of Burgundy: Their Arrival in Iberia and Political Rise

Raymond of Burgundy and his cousin, Henry of Burgundy, likely first arrived in Iberia in 1086, accompanying the army of Duke Odo I of Burgundy to support the Reconquista against the Muslims.

From Tudela to the Court of Alfonso VI (1087 CE)

• The Burgundian army abandoned its siege of Tudela in April 1087, and most of its troops returned home.
• However, Odo and his retinue moved westward, arriving at the court of King Alfonso VI of León and Castile.
• By July 21, 1087, they were likely at Burgos, and by August 5, they had reached León, the capital.

Marriage to Urraca and the Governance of Galicia

At León, Duke Odo arranged the marriage of Raymond to Urraca, the eldest daughter and heiress of Alfonso VI.

Through this marriage, Raymond received the governance of the Kingdom of Galicia as a dowry, which included:

• The County of Portugal
• The County of Coimbra

However, in 1095, Alfonso VI reassigns the Counties of Portugal and Coimbra to Henry of Burgundy, who bases his rule in Bracara Augusta (modern-day Braga). Henry’s descendants will later establish the independent Kingdom of Portugal, culminating in the reign of Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king.

Raymond’s Rule in Galicia

During his rule, Raymond of Burgundy assumes various prestigious titles, including:

• Count (Comes),
• Lord (Dominus),
• Prince,
• Emperor, and
• Consul of Galicia (or the Galicians).

These titles reflect the near-absolute power he exercises over his domain, marking him as a major political force in Christian Iberia during the late 11th century.

The Origins and Consolidation of the University of Santiago de Compostela (1495–1507)

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), one of Spain’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, traces its roots back to 1495, when López Gómez de Mazoa, a local solicitor, founded a school for the poor called the Gramatic Academy with the support of the abbot of San Martiño Pinario.

Early Struggles and Papal Recognition (1495–1504)

• The Gramatic Academy was originally housed in the Monastery of San Paio de Antealtares.
• The school faced financial difficulties, raising doubts about its sustainability.
• In 1504, Pope Julius II issued a Papal Bull, formally recognizing the institution and allowing it to develop into a center of higher learning.

The University’s Consolidation Under Archbishop Alonso III de Fonseca (1507)

• The definitive transformation of the school into a university came under Alonso III de Fonseca, who was named Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela in 1507.
• Fonseca was a highly educated Renaissance figure and a patron of the arts, with ties to Erasmus of Rotterdam and other humanist thinkers.
• He purchased the old Pilgrim’s Hospital, transforming it into a university college.
• The Santiago Alfeo College (Colegio de Santiago Alfeo), later known as Fonseca College, was built and became the center of university life until the second half of the 18th century.

Legacy and Significance

• The University of Santiago de Compostela grew into a major institution of learning, playing a crucial role in the intellectual and cultural life of Galicia and Spain.
• Fonseca College remains an emblematic landmark of the university to this day.
• The university’s origins in religious and Renaissance humanist traditions continue to shape its academic foundations.

The University of Santiago de Compostela stands as a testament to the enduring power of education, rising from a small charitable school in 1495 to become one of Spain’s most influential centers of learning.