Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

THE HIST OR Y OF NOR THERN SP AIN  43

Cantigas de Santa María
This manuscript detail by Alfonso the
Wise, king of Castile (1252–84), shows
Christians confronting Moors. Alfonso
encour aged cooperation be tween
Christian, Arabic and Jewish scholars.

The combined armies
of Castile, Aragón and
Navarra numbered Cross of Angels (808)
70,000 knights. This jewelled cross is an
exquisite example of early
Asturian art. Alfonso II,
who bequeathed it to
Oviedo Cathedral, had it
inscribed:“Whosoever
dares remove this cross
from the place which my
will destined for it shall be
thunderstruck by God.”

The Church of San Miguel in Estella
In the Christian kingdoms, religious
architecture flourished along the
pilgrimage route, an example being
the late Romanesque church in Estella.

The Cathedral in Huesca
The mudéjar style developed in regions
that were influenced by the Moors. One
example of this style is the richly
decorated gallery above the portal of
the cathedral in Huesca.

The body of a
Moorish soldier

Shield with the coat of arms
of Sancho VII of Navarra

The Tomb of King Alfonso VII
Alfonso VII of Castile led many military
campaigns in southern Spain. In 1147
he captured Calatrava, opening the
way to Andalusia. He also occupied
Córdoba and Almería.

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