Medieval Iberian Kingdoms: Repopulation, Languages, and Politics

Understanding the Repopulation of León

The expansion of the Kingdom of León into the northern Meseta created a large, uninhabited zone. The Kings of León sought to repopulate this area to prevent raids from neighboring Muslim lands.

Early Methods for Encouraging Repopulation

Initially, the most common methods for encouraging repopulation included:

• Granting plots of land to free peasants in exchange for their settlement in these border zones.
• Awarding fueros, which were special rights and privileges given to a city or region by the monarch to attract settlers and guarantee their loyalty to the Crown.

Later Strategies for Repopulation Efforts

Later, the primary measures implemented were:

• Granting control of land to the Church and to nobles who possessed sufficient military power to defend it. This became the most common measure.
• Permitting existing inhabitants (Muslims and Jews) to retain their lands, provided they paid special taxes.

Characteristics of Romance Languages

The inhabitants of the Christian Kingdoms significantly modified Latin, creating other languages known as Romance languages. These include: Galician, Astur-Leonese, Spanish, Navarro-Aragonese, Catalan, and Portuguese.

Absence of National Ties in Medieval Kingdoms

During this period, national ties as we understand them today did not exist. Kingdoms were considered the personal property of the monarch. Consequently, when a monarch had several children, the kingdom was often divided among them, ensuring each inherited a portion.

The Creation and Rise of the County of Castilla

To defend against Muslim raids from the east, the Kingdom of León constructed numerous castles in its eastern territories, leading to the creation of the County of Castilla. This county became particularly significant under Count Fernán González, eventually evolving into a kingdom.

Defining the Hispanic March

The Hispanic March served as a crucial border zone between the Frankish Kingdom and al-Andalus. Within the Carolingian Empire, border provinces with a significant military presence were known as marches.

Historical Periods: A Timeline

Prehistory:

Up to 3000 BC

Ancient Age:

3000 BC – 476 AD

Medieval Age:

476 AD – 1492 AD

Modern Age:

1492 AD – 1789 AD