Amaya (Burgos) facts for kids
- There are other meanings for Amaya.
Amaya is a small village in Spain, located in the region of Castile-Leon. It's part of the municipality of Sotresgudo in the Burgos province. In 2002, only 67 people lived there.
The name Amaya has ancient roots. Some believe it comes from old languages, meaning "mother" or "mother city." This suggests it was once a very important place. Another idea is that the name comes from the Basque word Amaia, which means "the end."
Contents
Amaya's Ancient History
Amaya was a key village for the Cantabri, a group of ancient Celtic tribes. It played a big role in the Cantabrian wars. These wars were fought when the Roman Empire was trying to conquer Hispania (what is now Spain).
Later, during the time of the Visigothic Kingdom, Amaya became the capital of the Duchy of Cantabria. This shows how important it was in the region.
Amaya in Historical Records
Amaya is mentioned in old writings. For example, the Chronicle by John of Biclaro says that the Visigothic king Liuvigild captured Amaya in the year 574.
Amaya and the Muslim Conquest
In the early 700s, Amaya faced more challenges. Muslim writers say that Musa ibn Nusair attacked Amaya in 714. This happened after Tariq had attacked it the year before.
During these times, Peter, a local leader, led his people to safety in the mountains. Soon after, Pelayo of Asturias, a noble from the nearby region of Asturias, started a rebellion against the Muslim rulers. Peter and other leaders supported Pelayo. They chose him as their new King to fight against the common enemy.
Amaya's Role in the Reconquista
The "Reconquista" was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain fought to take back land from Muslim rule. In the early stages, Amaya was part of efforts to resettle areas. These efforts were led by the Kingdom of Asturias in a border region called Bardulia. This area later became the first lands of Castile.
After campaigns by Alfonso I of Asturias (739-757) against the Moors (Muslims), Amaya was left empty for a while. It was in a buffer zone between Christian and Muslim lands, known as "The Desert of the Duero." About a century later, during the rule of Ordoño I of Asturias (850-866), Amaya was resettled again.
Amaya's Importance in Castile
Amaya was once a very important place. An old saying shows this: "A very small corner was Castile, when Amaya was the head and Montes de Oca the boundary stone." This means that Amaya was considered the main city when Castile was just starting out.
Amaya's Church History
Amaya was also a bishopric for a short time. A bishopric is an area managed by a bishop in the Catholic Church. Today, it is no longer an active bishopric. Instead, the Catholic Church recognizes Amaya as a titular see. This means it has a symbolic importance within the Church, even though there isn't a bishop living there.
See also
In Spanish: Amaya (ciudad) para niños
