Asturias-León and the Neogoticismo of Medieval Spain
The Creation of the Early Middle Ages
The Western Christian Kingdoms
The Kingdom of Asturias-León
The kingdom was driven by a restoration eagerness for the political, cultural, and religious unity of the Visigoths, a concept known as Neogoticismo.
The Purpose of Neogoticismo
This ideology served to justify the preeminence of the Kingdom of Asturias-León over the other Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Chronicle of Albelda
This document contains a brief, though not entirely clear, passage stating that Alfonso II, King of Asturias, ordered that the "whole order of the Goths" be instituted in Oviedo, both in the Church and in the palace. There are different interpretations of this:
- Legal restoration: Alfonso II restored Visigothic law in Asturias, both in the Church (Hispanic) and the palace (Liber Iudiciorum).
- Architectural restoration: A focus on building styles without legal significance.
- Ecclesiastical and palatial restoration: The most credible theory, involving the restoration of courtly and religious structures.
The Influence of Mozarabs
Neogoticismo was further accentuated by the arrival of Mozarabs from Al-Andalus, who maintained Hispano-Visigothic traditions. These Mozarabs, facing persecution, migrated to the Kingdom of Asturias-León rather than becoming Muladi.
The Leonese Imperial Idea
Due to the trend of regarding themselves as inheritors of the Visigoths, Castilian-Leonese monarchs began to style themselves as emperors. This title was previously used in Rome but not by Visigothic monarchs. The first to use it was Alfonso III, Magnus Imperator. Later, Alfonso IV called himself Emperor of All Spain, an ambitious title. Eventually, Alfonso VII was crowned in 1135 and was honored by other princes as the Emperor.
Drivers of the Imperial Idea
- Carolingian Rivalry: It served as a replica of the Carolingian Empire, which was involved in the reconquest of Catalonia and Pamplona, maintaining an effective presence in Hispanic lands.
- The Caliphate of Córdoba: The existence of the Caliphate, representing a dual political and spiritual authority, necessitated a superior title for the Christian King.
- Resistance to the Holy See: During the Middle Ages, the Papacy claimed sovereignty over territories dominated by Muslims, suggesting they should pass to papal domain after the Reconquista. Alfonso VII opposed these claims.
- The Hispanic Empire: The idea of a Hispanic Empire was largely confined to the reigns of Alfonso IV and Alfonso VII; after this period, the title of "Emperor" fell out of use.
Religious Hegemony and the Camino de Santiago
The monarchs sought to consolidate religious hegemony. Consequently, the tomb of St. James was established in Asturias, making Santiago an Apostolic See—a "new Rome." This created a new ecclesiastical headquarters detached from Toledo. This led to the phenomenon of pilgrimages. The Camino de Santiago was repopulated, introducing the Swiss way of life and the influence of the nobility to the region.