Galicia, the Switzerland of Spain

Galicia, the Switzerland of Spain

Ancient GaliciaNever conquered by the MoorsThe cradle of Spanish nobilityA goal for pilgrimsModern writers on GaliciaA rich literatureNational traditionsMartial geniusNo BasquesIberian wordsLigurians in SpainBarrows and tumuliDruidical stonesCeltic SpainDerivation of GaliciaScotch and Irish traditionsJulius CsarPhnician coloniesThe CassiteridesPlatos theoryIron implementsQuintus FabiusBrutus in GaliciaThe theatre of Csars battlesThe Roman LegionsThe most ancient of all the Spanish kingdoms GALICIA is the least known and the least written about of all the little kingdoms that go to the making of Spain. Her boundaries have been greatly reduced since the days when the Romans divided the Peninsula into five provinces and called one of them Galicia. In the fourth and fifth centuries, when the Sueves and the Vandals poured into Spain, they made Galicia their centre, and their kingdom extended into what is now the kingdom of Portugal, while Braga, now a Portuguese town, was for a long time the residential city of their kings. At the end of the seventh century King Witiza resided in Galicia, not as its king, but as the companion of his father in the kingdom of the Goths, whose seat was Toledo; it was as governor of Galicia that he resided at Tuy. In the days of the historian Mariana part of his palace was still to be seen there. His father died in 706, and he then became king of the Goths. The irruption of the Saracens in 713 again changed the aspect of the Peninsula, and the limits of Galicia were contracted; but Spanish geographers to this day call her a reino, or kingdom, and divide her into four little provincesCorua, Pontevedra, Orense, and Lugo. Like our Wales, Galicia once had kings of her own, and at a later date the title king of Galicia was given to the heir to the Spanish throne, just as that of Prince of Asturias is given now. It is an interesting fact that Moorish historians speak of that part of the Peninsula{2} which retained the Christian faith during their occupation as Galicia, and of all the rest of the territory as Spain. Just as Novgorod proudly boasts of never having been conquered by the Tartars when the rest of Russia was subjected to their sway, so Galicia is proud to remember that she, at least, was never conquered by the Moors. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 52538
Author: Meakin, Annette M. B.
Release Date: Jul 9, 2016
Format: eBook
Language: English