Roman Hispania

Etymology

Hispania is the Latin root for the modern name Spain, and the words Spanish for Hispanicus or Hispanic, or Spain for Hispania, can be interchangeable, depending on context. The Estoria de España ('The History of Spain') written on the initiative of Alfonso X of CastileEl Sabio ('the Wise'), between 1260 and 1274, during the Reconquista ('reconquest') of Spain, is believed to be the first extended history of Spain in Old Castilian using the words España ('Spain') and Españoles ('Spaniards') to refer to Medieval Hispania. The use of Latin Hispania, Castilian España, CatalanEspanya and Old FrenchEspaigne, among others, to refer to Roman Hispania or Visigothic Hispania was common throughout all the Late Middle Ages.