kids encyclopedia robot

Kingdom of Galicia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Kingdom of Galicia
409–1833
Flag of Galiza
Flag
Coat of arms of Galiza
Coat of arms
Motto: Hoc hic misterium fidei firmiter profitemur
"Here is the mystery of faith that we strongly profess"
Anthem: Antiga Marcha do Reino de Galicia
Map of the Kingdom of Galicia
The location of the Kingdom of Galicia in the 11th century CE, in red
Capital Santiago de Compostela1
Common languages Latin
Vulgar Latin
Galician-Portuguese
Astur-Leonese
Castilian
A few speakers of Brittonic, Visigothic, Vandalic and Suebic
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Government Monarchy
Monarch  
• 409–438
 Hermeric (first)
• 1813–1833
 Ferdinand VII (last)
Legislature Junta
History  
• Founded by Hermeric
 409
• Dissolved
 1833
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Western Roman Empire
Spain
County of Portugal
Couto Misto

The Kingdom of Galicia was an important kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula (where modern-day Spain and Portugal are) during the Middle Ages. It existed in two main periods.

First, it was a state ruled by the Suebi, a Germanic people, from 409 to 584 CE. This kingdom was in the same area as the old Roman province of Gallaecia.

Later, the region of Galicia became independent again in 910 CE. It kept its independence off and on for over 200 years. Finally, in 1157, it joined with the Kingdom of León and stayed united with it after that.

The Suebic Kingdom: Galicia's First Independent Era

Reino de Galicia -kingdom of Galicia-troncoso
Arms of the Kingdom of Galicia from 1750

The Suebic Kingdom in Gallaecia lasted from 410 to 584 CE. For much of this time, it had a fairly stable government. Historians believe that only about 30,000 Suebic people invaded the area. This was a small number compared to the local population.

In 438, Hermeric, the Suebic King, made peace with the local Hispano-Roman people. Tired of fighting, he gave up his throne to his son, Rechila. Around this time, the Visigoths invaded the Iberian Peninsula. They were sent to fight other groups like the Vandals and Alans. This actually helped the Suebi Kingdom grow bigger.

In 448, Rechila died. His son, Rechiarius, became king. Rechiarius had converted to Roman Catholicism around 447. This made Catholicism the official religion of the kingdom, moving away from the old pagan beliefs of the Suebi.

However, in 456, Rechiarius was defeated by the Visigoth king Theodoric II. After this, the Suebic Kingdom began to lose its power. It was pushed into the northwest part of the peninsula. Political problems also arose, with two different kings ruling on opposite sides of the Minius River (Miño).

Despite pressure from the Visigoths, the Suebi kept their independence in the northwest until 584. In that year, the Visigoth King Leovigild took over the Suebic Kingdom. He used a conflict over who would be the next king as an excuse. Andeca, the last Suebic king, fought for a year but surrendered in 585.

The Kingdom of Galicia and Portugal: A Brief Union

Cedulareinogaliza
A document from the Commercial Company of the Kingdom of Galicia, 18th century

The Kingdom of Galicia and Portugal was formed in 1065. This happened after the County of Portugal declared its independence. Portugal's ruler, Count Nuno II Mendes, took advantage of a civil war among the sons of Ferdinand I of Castile. Ferdinand I had divided his kingdom among his sons in 1063, giving Galicia to García.

Nuno II Mendes tried to make Portugal fully independent. However, in 1071, King García defeated and killed him at the Battle of Pedroso. García then added the title of King of Portugal to his own.

But García's rule didn't last long. In 1072, his brother Sancho II of Castile defeated him, and García had to flee. Later that year, after Sancho was killed, Alphonso VI became king of León and Castile. He reunited his father's lands. From then on, Galicia remained part of the kingdom of Castile and León. It had different levels of self-government over time. Even though this combined kingdom was short-lived, it helped set the stage for Portugal to become its own nation later.

Leonese Kings and Galicia's Future

At the Battle of São Mamede in 1128, Afonso I of Portugal defeated the troops led by Count Fernando Peres de Trava of Galicia. Afonso made his own mother a prisoner and sent her to a monastery in León. This event ended the idea of Portugal joining a larger Kingdom of Galicia. Afonso became the sole ruler, known as the Dux of Portugal.

Images for kids

  • Escudo reino de galicia

    Arms of the Kingdom of Galicia, illustrated in L´armorial Le Blancq, Bibliothèque nationale de France, 1560

  • Ariamirogaliza

    Theodemar (or Ariamir), king of Galicia with the bishops Lucrecio, Andrew, and Martin. Codex Vigilanus (or Albeldensis), Escurial library

  • Cvp-00791-109v

    Miro, king of Galicia, and Martin of Braga, from an 1145 manuscript of Martin's Formula Vitae Honestae, now in the Austrian National Library. The book was originally dedicated to King Miro with the header "To King Miro, the most glorious and calm, the pious, distinguished for his Catholic faith"

  • San Pedro de Rocas (Esgos, Galiza)

    Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, Galicia, founded in 575 and inhabited until the early 20th century

  • Europe-600

    Political map of southwestern Europe around the year 600, which referred to three different areas under Visigothic government – Hispania, Gallaecia, and Septimania

  • Iglesia de Santa Comba de Bande

    Church of Santa Comba de Bande, built c.7th century, rebuilt in the 9th century after being ruined for more than 200 years

  • Theodemirus

    Tombstone of the sepulcher of bishop Theodemar of Iria (d. 847), discoverer of the tomb attributed to apostle Saint James the Great

  • Vimaraperes

    Statue of Vímara Peres, conqueror of Porto in 868

  • Dragon ships in Catoira

    Modern replicas of Viking ships by the castle of Torres de Oeste, Catoira

  • San Martiño de Mondoñedo-Foz(Lugo)

    Romanesque cathedral of San Martiño de Mondoñedo (9th–11th centuries); first construction dates from the 6th–7th centuries

  • UrracaRegina TumboA

    Queen Urraca ruled Galicia with her husband, Raymond of Burgundy, until the death of her father Alfonso VI. Medieval portrait, Tumbo A chartulary of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

  • Europe-south-west-kingdoms12th

    Political Map of the northwest Iberian peninsula at the end of the 12th century

  • Reis de Galiza2

    Medieval miniatures of Ferdinand II (left) and Alfonso IX (right), kings of León and Galicia. Chartulary of the monastery of Toxosoutos, Lousame, 13th century

  • Pero Carneiro

    Sepulchre of a merchant: Pero Carneiro, son of Pero Afonso da Corredoira, in the church of St. Mary a Nova, Noia

  • ForoBoBurgo

    One of the oldest legal charters written in Galician, the constitutional charter of the Bo Burgo (Good Burg) of Castro Caldelas. Year 1228.

  • Cantiga bagpipes 1

    Miniatures from a manuscript of the Cantigas de Santa Maria

  • Sueiro Gomes de Souto Maior

    Sepulchre of the knight Sueiro Gomes de Soutomaior. The inscription, in Galician, reads "[Here] lies Sueiro Gomes de Souto Maior, who died [...]": SUEIRO GOMES DE SOUTO MAIOR Q FALECEU

  • Fernando III de Castilla (Tumbo A)

    Romance portrait of Castilian King Ferdinand III; flanking him are the canting arms of his kingdoms, the purple lion of León, and the castle of Castile

  • Sartego Pai Gómez Chariño

    Paio Gómez Chariño's Tomb, Convent of San Francisco, Pontevedra, Galicia

  • Sartego de Alvaro Paz Carneiro en Noia

    Sepulchre of Alvaro Paz Carneiro, church of St. Mary 'A Nova' in Noia, 'who died in the Mortality, August 15, 1348'

  • The battle of Navaret

    Battle of Nájera. Galician armies fought with Pedro I and Edward of Woodstock, defeating the Castilian armies of Henry of Trastámara

  • Dukeoflancaster

    John of Gaunt entering Santiago de Compostela, from a manuscript of Jean Froissart's chronicles

  • Castelo de Andrade, Pontedeume, Galiza

    Castle of the House of Andrade, A Nogueirosa, Pontedeume

  • Retablo de Belvis

    14th century 'Retablo de Belvis'

  • Castelo de Pambre 2

    The castle of Pambre, Palas de Rei, which resisted the Irmandiños troops

  • Castelo de Soutomaior, San Salvador de Soutomaior

    Castle of Soutomaior

  • A Mariscala

    A Mariscala, the chain which allegedly kept prisoner Marshal Pardo de Cela before his execution. Museo Arqueolóxico Provincial de Lugo

  • Escudo reino de Galicia - Kingdom of Galicia

    Flag and arms of the Kingdom of Galicia (16th century), after the funeral of Emperor Charles V, also king of Galicia, by Joannes and Lucas Doetecum

  • Portrait of Philip II of Spain by Sofonisba Anguissola - 002b

    The reign of Philip II of Habsburg saw a deep economic and social crisis, and was disastrous for its cultural development; portrait by Alonso Sanchez Coello

  • English Ships and the Spanish Armada, August 1588 RMG BHC0262

    Battle between the naval fleets of Philip II of Habsburg (nicknamed the "Invincible Armada") and Elizabeth I of England in 1588, leaving the English victorious

  • Descripcion Reyno de Galizia de Ojea

    The Kingdom of Galicia in 1603

  • Conde de gondomar

    Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, count of Gondomar, was one of the main advocates of voting rights at the Council of Castile. A humanist ambassador and lover of the Galician language and culture, he was respected and appreciated in the kingdom and abroad; c. 17th century

  • Martín Sarmiento

    Portrait of Martín Sarmiento

  • TumboA Alfonso

    Romanesque miniature representing Alfonso IX, King of León. In the upper part appears his historic title Rex Legionensium et Gallecie, while the lower part shows the purple lion, symbol of the Leonese monarchy

  • Cathedral of Ourense (Spain)

    Romanesque façade in the Cathedral of Ourense (1160); founded in the 6th century, its construction is attributed to King Chararic

  • Absida igrexa de San Miguel de Eiré, Eiré, Pantón

    Monastical church of San Miguel de Eiré, Pantón (12th century)

  • Capela de San Miguel de Celanova, Celanova

    Oratory of San Miguel de Celanova (first quarter of the 10th century)

  • Apóstoles del Pórtico de la Gloria

    Pórtico da Gloria, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (12th–13th centuries), summum of the local Romanesque sculpture

  • PC190465

    Sepulcher of count Pedro Fróilaz de Traba (Orbem Galletie Imperante), protector of king Alfonso VII (d. 1128)

  • Lauda de Fernando II

    Sepulcher of king Ferdinand II (Rex in Legione et Gallecia) (d. 1187)

  • Fernando Afonso

    Sepulcher of Ferdinand of Galicia and León. Son and heir of the king Afonso VIII (known as alfonso ix in the Spanish bibliography) (d. 1214)

  • Berenguela of Barcelona

    Sepulcher of the queen Berengaria of Barcelona wife of Afonso VII (d. 1149)

  • Tomb of Afonso VIII de Galicia León (Capela das Reliquias da catedral de Santiago de Compostela)

    Sepulcher of king Afonso VIII of León and Galicia (known as Afonso IX in the Spanish bibliography) (Rex Legionis et Gallecie) (d. 1230)

  • Sepulcro de la reina Juana de Castro, segunda esposa de Pedro I el Cruel, rey de Castilla y León (Catedral de Santiago de Compostela)

    Sepulcher of queen Joana de Castro of Castilla, León, Toledo and Galicia (d. 1374)

  • Reino de Galicia - Kingdom of Galicia - Segars Roll

    Arms of the Kings of Galicia, Segar's Roll, 13th century

  • Reino de Galicia-kingdom of Galicia-Maximiliano

    Arms of the kingdom of Galicia in the "Great Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian", Year 1515.

  • Reino de Galicia - Kingdom of Galicia - CarolumV

    Arms of the kingdom of Galicia in the Historia originis et succesionis regnorum et imperiorum a Noe usque ad Carolum V, 1548.

  • Reino de Galicia - kingdom of Galicia - Hierosme

    Arms of the kingdom od Galicia, Le blason des Armoiries, Year 1581

  • Escudo reino de galicia

    Arms of the Kingdom of Galicia, illustrated in L´armorial Le Blancq, Bibliothèque nationale de France, 16th century

  • Escudo-reyno de galizia

    Arms of the Kingdom of Galicia, Pedro de Teixeira, 17th century

  • WesternEurope BeatusOsma

    Burgo de Osma´s map (1086), with the names Gallecia (occupying the whole Northwest Iberian Peninsula), Asturias (occupying the Cantabrian linecoast), and Spania (occupying the rest of Iberia)

  • 1125 Lambert de Saint Omer Liber Floridus Peninsula Iberica

    In Liber Floridus (1125), by Lambert of Saint-Omer, showing the names Galitia, Hispania, Lusitania, and Wasconia, among others

  • 1154 Tabula Rogeriana Al Idrisi transcripcion de Konrad Miller 1928 detalle

    In Tabula Rogeriana (1154), by Muhammad al-Idrisi, showing the name Ard Galika

  • 1190 Imago Mundi Honorius of Autum (Henry of Mainz) Peninsula Iberica

    In Imago Mundi (1190), by Honorius Augustodunensis, showing the names Galicia and Hispania

  • 1234 Convento de Ebstorfer Gervase of Tilbury Gallicia Regio

    Ebstorf Map (1234), showing the name Gallicia Regio

  • 1320 Pietro Vesconte (Liber Secretorum de Marino Sanuto) Norte Peninsula Iberica

    In Liber Secretorum (1125), by Marino Sanuto, where the name Galitia occupies the entire northwestern Iberia

  • Galicia in pirrus de noha map

    Pirrus de Noha's map (1414) where Galicia occupies the northwestern Iberia.

  • 1420 Salustio de Ginebra Peninsula Iberica

    Sallust de Geneve's map (1420), where the name Galaecia occupies the entire northwestern Iberia

  • 1475 Rudimentum Novitorum Lucas Brandis occidente europeo

    In Rudimentum Novitorum (1475), by Lucas Brandis, showing the names Galicia, Hispani, and Anglia, among others

  • Mapa de Borgia XV noroeste Peninsula Iberica

    Northwest Iberian Peninsula (15th century) with the names Galiicia and nearby infidelis Yspania

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Reino de Galicia para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Kingdom of Galicia Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.