Repoblación
Encyclopedia
The Repoblación was the ninth-century repopulating of a large region between the River Duero and the Cantabrian Cordillera
which had been depopulated in the early years of the Reconquista
.
In the reign of Alfonso I of Asturias
(739-757), through a series of successful military campaigns against the Moors
, the Christians had retaken Galicia, La Rioja, and León
and brought the population of the northern regions firmly under his control. This left those provinces largely empty of human settlement and created a buffer zone between Moors and Christians. This region was called the Desert of the Duero. This zone was left untouched for almost a century while Alfonso's successors focused their energies on Vasconia
and Galicia.
It was during the reign of Ordoño I of Asturias
(850-866) that the repopulation of the uninhabited zone began. Ordoño began advancing to the south, repopulating the cities of Tui
, Astorga
, León, and Amaya
. The people who descended the mountains of the north for the uninhabited valleys were called foramontanos: meaning "out of the mountains." Among the routes the foramontanos took was that between Cabuérniga
and Campo de Suso, which was followed as early as 824, when the new population of Brañosera
received the oldest known fuero
in Spanish history.
The desire for newer, more fertile agricultural zones in the river valleys of the Ebro
and Duero was the chief driving factor in the emigrations. From this time the kingdom increasingly became known as that of León and in 910, on the death of Ordoño's son, Alfonso III, the kingdom was divided with Fruela II continuing to reign in the Asturias while his brothers García
and Ordoño
ruled in León and Galicia respectively. The repoblación was then complete.
The Portuguese Repovoação occurred during the reigns of the House of Burgundy
up to the middle of the thirteenth century.
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
which had been depopulated in the early years of the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
In the reign of Alfonso I of Asturias
Alfonso I of Asturias
Alfonso I , called the Catholic , was the King of Asturias from 739 to his death in 757.He was son of Duke Peter of Cantabria and held many lands in that region. He may have been the hereditary chief of the Basques, but this is uncertain...
(739-757), through a series of successful military campaigns against the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, the Christians had retaken Galicia, La Rioja, and León
León (province)
León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.About one quarter of its population of 500,200 lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter....
and brought the population of the northern regions firmly under his control. This left those provinces largely empty of human settlement and created a buffer zone between Moors and Christians. This region was called the Desert of the Duero. This zone was left untouched for almost a century while Alfonso's successors focused their energies on Vasconia
Vasconia
Vasconia is an historical name derived from the ancient tribe of the Vascones and used in different times, specially in the Middle Ages, to refer to the Basque territories...
and Galicia.
It was during the reign of Ordoño I of Asturias
Ordoño I of Asturias
Ordoño I was King of Asturias from 850 until his death.-Biography:He was born in Oviedo, where he spent his early life in the court of Alfonso II. He was probably associated with the crown from an early age. He was probably raised in Lugo, capital of the province of Galicia, of which his father,...
(850-866) that the repopulation of the uninhabited zone began. Ordoño began advancing to the south, repopulating the cities of Tui
Tui, Galicia
Tui , in Spanish Tuy, is a town in Galicia , in the province of Pontevedra. It is located on the left bank of the Minho River, facing the Portuguese town of Valença....
, Astorga
Astorga, Spain
Astorga is a town in the province of León, northern Spain. It lies southwest of the provincial capital of León, and is the head of the council of La Maragatería. The river Tuerto flows through it. , its population was about 12,100 people....
, León, and Amaya
Amaya
Amaya can refer to:* Amaya , a professional Middle Eastern dancer* Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII, a novel by Francisco Navarro-Villoslada** Amaya , a 1920 opera by Jesús Guridi based in the novel...
. The people who descended the mountains of the north for the uninhabited valleys were called foramontanos: meaning "out of the mountains." Among the routes the foramontanos took was that between Cabuérniga
Cabuérniga
Cabuérniga is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2007 census, the city has a population of 1.109 inhabitants. Its capital is Valle.-External links:* - Cantabria 102 Municipios...
and Campo de Suso, which was followed as early as 824, when the new population of Brañosera
Brañosera
Brañosera is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 284 inhabitants....
received the oldest known fuero
Fuero
Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...
in Spanish history.
The desire for newer, more fertile agricultural zones in the river valleys of the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
and Duero was the chief driving factor in the emigrations. From this time the kingdom increasingly became known as that of León and in 910, on the death of Ordoño's son, Alfonso III, the kingdom was divided with Fruela II continuing to reign in the Asturias while his brothers García
García I of León
García I was the King of León from 910 until his death and eldest of three succeeding sons of Alfonso III the Great by his wife Jimena....
and Ordoño
Ordoño II of León
Ordoño II was king of Galicia from 910, and king of Galicia and León from 914 until his death. He was the second son of King Alfonso III the Great and his wife, Jimena of Pamplona....
ruled in León and Galicia respectively. The repoblación was then complete.
The Portuguese Repovoação occurred during the reigns of the House of Burgundy
House of Burgundy
The House of Burgundy was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, descending from Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, a younger son of Robert II of France....
up to the middle of the thirteenth century.