Medina de Rioseco

Medina de Riosecois amunicipalitylocated in theprovince of Valladolid,in the autonomous community ofCastile and LeónandSpain.According to a 2011census(INE), the municipality has a population of 4,967 inhabitants.

Medina de Rioseco
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname: City of the Admirals
Medina de Rioseco
Coordinates:41°52′59″N5°02′34″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile and León
Province	Valladolid
Municipality	Medina de Rioseco
Area
• Total	115 km2(44 sq mi)
Elevation	741 m (2,431 ft)
Population (2018)
• Total	4,716
• Density	41/km2(110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Website	www.medinaderioseco.com/

Typical street in Medina de Rioseco.

The city also has the nicknames the "City of the Admirals" and "Old India Girl."

It has an area of 115.43 square kilometres (44.6 sq mi), with a population density of 43.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (111/sq mi). It is a municipality ofTierra de Campos.The Sequillo river passes nearby.

The coat of arms shield is quartered, with two castles in gold and two horses leaning out of colored battlements on a silver background, surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves, but no crown. It was granted by KingJohn I of Castile.

The city lies along the road of El Camino de Santiago de Madrid.

Origins

The oldest traces of Rioseco come from the Iron Age and the time of Celtic Iberia. Mistakenly, some ancient authors identified this area as aForum Egurrorumor a market square in theVisigoths' era. Documents relating to the Tierra de Campos and Campos Gothic orCampii Gotorumdate from this period. In the middle of the ninth century and throughout the tenth century, this area was a territory of colonization of the Asturian-Leonese kingdom, which also containedMozarabicpeople, such as theIberianChristianswho lived under Arab Islamic rule inAl-Andalus.This perhaps led to a place name for the population: "Medina" (Arabic for "city" ).

Reconquest

Map showing the Iberian Peninsula in AD 1000, withCondado de Castillastill a part of theKingdom of León.

The confluence of the borders between theKingdom of Leónand theCounty of Castileled to battles in this area between the two kingdoms. In 1037, Castile became the separateKingdom of Castile.Alfonso Xthe Wise determined the ultimate limits withValladolidin 1258, leaving Medina for the mountains of Torozos.

During theMiddle Ages,in the Merindad of Valladolid Infantazgo (in old Castilian cited as:Meryndat del Infantadgo de Ualladolid), there was an administrative division of theKingdom of Castile,which is described in the bookCalif of Behetrías of Castile,drafted by theCortes of Valladolidof 1351, when the establishment ofknightsapplied to KingPedro Ito absorb theBehetríasland by conversion tomanors.

Admirals of Castile

In May 1405, DonAlonso Enriquez(1354–1429) received the title of Admiral of Castile from KingHenry III of Castile,after the death of the previous owner of this title, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza. In 1423John II of Castileestablished the manor of Medina Rioseco.

Its traditional commercial role since medieval times gained official status over time. Exercising dominion, D.Fadrique Enriquez,second admiral, was granted by John II the privilege of conducting an annual fair. Under the dominion of Alfonso II Enriquez, third Admiral of Castile,Enrique IV of Castile,granted the town the right to conduct a second annual fair, and in 1465, Henry IV gave it a free weekly tax. Don Frederic II and Enríquez de Cabrera—the fourth Admiral—began building the palace of the admirals and the church of San Francisco. He also founded the convent of Santa Clara, and during his rule built the church of Santa María de Mediavilla.

16th century

Medina de Rioseco became the global trading hub for silver arriving from the Indies through the port of Seville and enjoyed an economic boom that reached its peak during the 16th century. Donations and legacies poured in from the Americas, increasing the wealth of the city and surrounding parishes. Four large Riosecano churches were built, and the city became home to one of the most important fairs of the kingdom, second only to that at Medina del Campo. At this time the, so-called Penitential Monasteries were founded, which were famous for their processions of penance and passion, and their many chapels and hospitals.

TheBattle of Medina del Riosecotook place on July 14, 1808, during thePeninsular War.

Pictures of Santiago Apóstol Church

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  Santiago Apóstol Church
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  Main baroque altar (18th century)
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  Baroque organ (18th century)

See also

• Tierra de Campos
• Cuisine of the province of Valladolid

References

• Parts of this article have been translated from the corresponding article in the Spanish Wikipedia.