The Battle of Clavijo was a legend

Legend

A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...

ary battle, supposedly fought in 844 near Clavijo

Clavijo

Clavijo is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja . It is located near the capital, Logroño. , its population was of 276 inhabitants....

 between the Christians led by Ramiro I of Asturias

Ramiro I of Asturias

Ramiro I was King of Asturias from 842 until his death. Son of Bermudo I, he succeeded Alfonso II.First, he had to deal with the usurper Nepocian, defeating him at the Battle of the Bridge of Cornellana, by the river Narcea. Ramiro then removed the system of election which allowed his family to be...

 and the Muslims led by the Emir of Córdoba. Saint James the Great, known to Spaniards as Santiago Matamoros (the Moor-slayer), is reputed to have aided the vastly outnumbered Christian army. Some aspects of the historical Battle of Monte Laturce

Battle of Monte Laturce

The Battle of Monte Laturce, also known as the second Battle of Albeda, was a victory for the forces of Ordoño I and the Asturians over the Banu Qasi lord of Borja, Tarazona, Terrer, and Tudela, Musa ibn Musa. The battle took place during the Asturian siege of a new fortress under construction at...

 (859) were incorporated into this legend, as Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz

Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz y Menduiña

Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz y Menduiña was an eminent Spanish medieval historian, statesman, and a leader of the Spanish Republican government in Exile during the rule of Francisco Franco.- Education and Early Career :...

 demonstrated in 1948.

The legend as it survives was first written down in the twelfth century. A forged grant to the Church of Santiago de Compostela by which Ramiro reportedly surrendered a part of the annual tribute owed him by all the Christians of Spain also dates from the mid-twelfth century.

Gallery

Saint James' appearance at Clavijo has been a major theme in art. Among those artists who portrayed him there are Aniello Falcone

Aniello Falcone

Aniello Falcone was an Italian Baroque painter, active in Naples and noted for his painted depictions of battle scenes.-Biography:...

, Paolo da San Leocadio, Evaristo Muñoz

Evaristo Muñoz

Evaristo Muñoz Estarlich was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Valencia.He was influenced by Acisclo Antonio Palomino and Luca Giordano. He painted many altarpieces. Jose Espinós was one of his pupils.-External links:*....

, Mateo Pérez de Alesio, Martin Schongauer

Martin Schongauer

Martin Schongauer was a German engraver and painter. He was the most important German printmaker before Albrecht Dürer....

, Corrado Giaquinto

Corrado Giaquinto

Corrado Giaquinto was an Italian Rococo painter.-Early training and move to Rome:He was born in Molfetta. As a boy he apprenticed with a modest local painter Saverio Porta, , escaping the religious career his parents had intended for him...

, and Antonio González Ruiz.