The Battle of Clavijo is a mythical battle, which was believed for centuries to be historical, and it became a popular theme of Spanish traditions regarding the
Christian expulsion of the Muslims.
The stories about the battle are first found centuries after it allegedly occurred; according to them, it was fought near
Clavijo between Christians, led by
Ramiro I of Asturias, and
Muslims, led by the
Emir of Córdoba. Modern historians no longer believe the battle to be historical - "To a serious historian, the existence of the Battle of Clavijo is not even a topic of discussion".
Background
In the legend,
James, son of Zebedee, an Apostle of
Jesus
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...
, and future Saint James/Santiago, who died 800 years earlier, suddenly appeared and led an outnumbered Christian army to gain its victory. He became the patron saint of Spain and is known to Spaniards as
Santiago Matamoros
Saint James the Moor-slayer ( es, Santiago Matamoros) is the name given to the representation (painting, sculpture, etc.) of the apostle James the Great, as a legendary, miraculous figure who appeared at the also legendary Battle of Clavijo, he ...
("the Moor-killer"). Aspects of the historical
Battle of Monte Laturce (859) were incorporated into this legend, as
Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz
Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz y Menduiña (; April 7, 1893 in Madrid – July 8, 1984 in Ávila) was a Spanish scholar, politician and orator. He served as Prime Minister of the Spanish Republican government in exile during the dictatorship of Fra ...
demonstrated in 1948. The date originally assigned to the battle, 834, was changed in modern times to 844 to suit the inherent contradictions of the account. The day is sometimes given as 23 May.
The legend as it survives was first written down about 300 years after the supposed event on a spurious charter. Another item, 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. The history of the cult of Saint James is rich in such frauds.
[ Historian Jean Mitchell-Lanham says, "While this event is based on legend, the supposed battle has provided one of the strongest ideological icons in the Spanish national identity."]
Gallery
Saint James' appearance at Clavijo has been a major theme in art. Among those artists who portrayed him there are Aniello Falcone, Paolo da San Leocadio, Evaristo Muñoz
Evaristo Muñoz Estarlich (1684, Valencia – 1737, Valencia) was a Spanish Baroque painter; a follower of the decorative style introduced to Valencia by Antonio Palomino. Some sources give his year of birth as 1671.
Biography
He studied wit ...
, Mateo Pérez, Martin Schongauer, Corrado Giaquinto, and Antonio González Ruiz.
File:Battle of Clavijo by Martin Shongauer.png, Late medieval engraving of the battle of Clavijo by Martin Schongauer
File:Palacio de Rejoy, gable, Battle of Clavijo.PNG, Gable of the Pazo de Raxoi
Pazo de Raxoi ('Palace of Raxoi '; es, Palacio de Rajoy) is a neoclassical palace in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. Completed in 1766, it is located on the Praza do Obradoiro
The Praza do Obradoiro ( Galician for "Square of the Works ...
, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
File:Altichiero, scene della vita di san giacomo, basilica del santo, cappella di san felice, padova, 1376 circa.jpg, Scenes from the life of Saint James, including the battle of Clavijo
File:20070415 - Monasterio de Uclés - La Aparición del Apóstol Santiago en la Batalla de Clavijo, obra de Antonio González Ruiz, presidiendo la Escalera principal.jpg, Saint James appearing at Clavijo, by Antonio González Ruiz
File:St James -Cristo del Rey.jpg, St. James as carved by anonymous Mexican stone carvers. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe ( ; , Spanish for 'Holy Faith'; tew, Oghá P'o'oge, Tewa for 'white shell water place'; tiw, Hulp'ó'ona, label= Northern Tiwa; nv, Yootó, Navajo for 'bead + water place') is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The name “S ...
, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
1760
See also
* Cross of Saint James
References
Sources
*Pérez de Urbel, Justo. 1954. "Lo viejo y lo nuevo sobre el origin del Reino de Pamplona". ''Al-Andalus'', 19:1–42, especially 20–6.
*Fletcher, Richard A. 1984
''Saint James's Catapult: The Life and Times of Diego Gelmírez of Santiago de Compostela''.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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844
Spanish legends
Clavijo
Clavijo
9th century in Al-Andalus
Clavijo
Clavijo