Tribute of 100 virgins facts for kids
The Tribute of 100 Maidens (called tributo de las cien doncellas in Spanish) is a famous Spanish national myth. It's part of the story of the Reconquista, which was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain fought to take back land from Muslim rulers.
This legend tells a story about a yearly tribute (a payment or offering) of one hundred young women. It says that the Christian kingdom of Asturias had to give these maidens to the Muslim emirate of Córdoba. The story also claims that half of these young women were from noble families, and the other half were commoners.
Even though historians say this story probably isn't true, it was very important. It helped to spread and strengthen the idea of the Reconquista during the Middle Ages. It still plays a big role in Spanish culture and memory today.
How the Myth Began
In the past, the border between Christian and Muslim lands in Spain was not always strict. People from different religious groups sometimes married each other or formed alliances. For example, King Mauregatus of Asturias tried to have good relationships with the Moors (Muslims). He even allowed marriages between Moors and people from Asturias. These marriages helped create friendly connections between different families.
Even though these marriages could help keep peace, the Church did not always approve of them.
The story of the tribute started during the rule of Mauregatus (783–789). The legend says that Mauregatus took the throne from his nephew, Alfonso II of Asturias, by using magic and by making friends with the Moors.
This legend didn't appear until much later, around 1150. It came about after another story called the Privilegio del voto was created. This text describes a mythical battle, the Battle of Clavijo in 834. In that battle, Saint James supposedly helped the Asturians win. Because of this, the text claimed that Spaniards owed a yearly payment to the cathedral of Saint James in Compostela.
A writer named Lucas of Tuy, in 1236, wrote about Mauregatus. He said that Mauregatus "gave many high-born and also low-born maidens [to the Saracens] in marriage." This was part of an agreement so that he could have peace with them. Lucas of Tuy added a dark twist to the story in his writings.
The Story of the Tribute
The main story of the tribute began to grow around King Mauregatus's friendly ties with the Moors. The legend says that in 788, two counts, Arias and Oveco, killed Mauregatus. They were angry because he had agreed to such a terrible tribute.
His successor, Bermudo I of Asturias, tried to change the tribute to money instead of young women. But Bermudo was followed by Alfonso II of Asturias, who was known as "the Chaste." Alfonso completely refused to pay the tribute. This led to military conflicts.
Alfonso II won the Battle of Lutos and defeated the Moorish captain Mugait. He achieved his goal: no more tribute. The next king, Ramiro I of Asturias, with the help of Bernardo del Carpio, supposedly defeated the Moors at the (fictional) Battle of Clavijo. The story claims that the Moorish rulers became scared of the growing strength of the Christian kingdoms in the north. Because of this fear, they gave up their demands for the tribute.
See also
In Spanish: Tributo de las cien vírgenes para niños
- Kingdom of Sobrarbe
- Kosovo Myth
- El Cid
