Couto Mixto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Couto Mixto
Couto Mixto
Neutral territory
12th century–1864 →
Map of Couto Mixto (green)
Capital Santiago
Language(s) Galician, Portuguese, Spanish
Religion Roman Catholic
Government Republic
Judge
 - ca 1860 Delfín Modesto Brandón
History
 - Established 12th century
 - Annexation by Spain September 29, 1864
Area
 - 1845 27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population
 - 1845 est. 800 
     Density 29.6 /km2  (76.7 /sq mi)
Commemorative plaque on the church of Santiago de Rubiás

Couto Mixto (English: Mixed Territory) is a Spanish territory with three villages (Santiago and Rubiás now in the municipality of Calvos de Randín, and Meaus in the municipality of Baltar), located in Ourense, Galicia, by the border with Portugal.

This land was neither Portuguese nor Spanish for centuries, until the Treaty of Lisbon (1864) that gave the sovereignty to Spain. But before that, the people living there had several privileges, such as not being obliged to go into the army (Portuguese or Spanish) or not needing a licence to carry weapons. It was in fact an independent territory. Nowadays some cultural initiatives try to remember those days and traditions.

Contents

[edit] The privileges of Couto Mixto

  • Nationality
  • Taxes
  • Military service
  • Right to bear arms
  • Official stamps
  • Self-government
  • Right of asylum
  • Fairs and markets
  • Road right-of-way
  • Crops

[edit] Other privileges

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Books

  • García Mañá, Luís Manuel (2005). Couto Mixto. Unha república esquecida. Vigo: Edicións Xerais de Galicia. ISBN 84-9782-325-7.
  • Modesto Brandón, Delfín (1907). Interesante Historieta del Couto Mixto. Coruña.

[edit] News

[edit] External links


Stub icon This article about a location in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couto_Mixto"