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San Millán de la Cogolla

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San Millán de la Cogolla
Flag of San Millán de la Cogolla
Coat of arms of San Millán de la Cogolla
San Millán de la Cogolla is located in La Rioja, Spain
San Millán de la Cogolla
San Millán de la Cogolla
Location in La Rioja
San Millán de la Cogolla is located in Spain
San Millán de la Cogolla
San Millán de la Cogolla
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 42°10′N 2°52′W / 42.167°N 2.867°W / 42.167; -2.867
Country Spain
Autonomous community La Rioja
ProvinceLa Rioja
ComarcaNájera
Government
 • MayorMaría Pilar Mendoza Martínez (PSOE)
Area
 • Total31.19 km2 (12.04 sq mi)
Elevation
728 m (2,388 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total222
 • Density7.1/km2 (18/sq mi)
DemonymEmilianenses
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
26326
Websitehttp://www.sanmillandelacogolla.es

San Millán de la Cogolla (Spanish pronunciation: [sam miˈʎan de la koˈɣoʎa]) is a sparsely populated municipality in La Rioja, (Spain). The village is famous for its twin monasteries, Yuso and Suso (Monasterio de San Millán de Yuso and Monasterio de San Millán de Suso), which were declared a World Heritage Site in 1997. There were 293 inhabitants registered in 2009, the population having fallen significantly during the twentieth century.

Etymology and local languages

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In a papal bull from 1199 where Privileges were granted to the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla it appears with the name Coculla, which comes from the Latin word cuculla, small hill, hilltop; this word is typically used for high sites and those of defensive nature, coming from the times of the Reconquista.[2] The other part of the name is taken from a 6th-century saint (Saint Emilianus or San Millán) who lived here.

San Millán has a claim to being the birthplace of the Spanish language.[3] This claim is based on its monasteries being the home of a medieval manuscript which contains the Glosas Emilianenses, and is reinforced by the proximity of the village to Berceo which is associated with Gonzalo de Berceo, the first Spanish poet known by name.

The area is now Spanish-speaking, but some of the local place-names are of Basque origin, and the Glosas Emilianenses, provides evidence that in medieval times Basque was spoken alongside an early form of Spanish.[4]

History

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In medieval times the monastery had a large estate.[5] and benefited from being on one of the variants of the Camino de Santiago.

The monastery and the surrounding area suffered in the civil war between Peter of Castile and Henry II of Castile which involved a major confrontation nearby, the Battle of Nájera (April 1371). Those affected included the small Jewish community (aljama) of San Millán. In 1369 Henry II of Castile made an order in their favour, "the Christian men and women and the Moorish men and women" should immediately discharge all their debts to the Jews, "that the last-named might be able to pay their taxes the more promptly." On September 10, 1371, however, the king released the abbot and all the monks of San Millán from whatever debts they had contracted with the Jews since the Battle of Nájera.[6]

Politics

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List of mayors since the democratic elections of 1979
Term Mayor Political Party
1979–1983 Santiago Lerena Alesanco UCD
1983–1987 Santiago Lerena Alesanco AP
1987–1991 Millán Ángel Baltanás Lorenzo PSOE
1991–1995 Millán Ángel Baltanás Lorenzo PSOE
1995–1999 Eladio Cañas Ureta PR
1999–2003 Eladio Cañas Ureta PP
2003–2007 Eladio Cañas Ureta PP
2007–2011 María Pilar Mendoza Martínez PSOE
2011–2015 María Pilar Mendoza Martínez PSOE
2015–2019 Raquel Fernández Tejerina PP
2019–2023 n/d n/d
2023– n/d n/d

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ Ranz Yubero, José Antonio; López de los Mozos, José Ramón (2002). "Topónimos riojanos del patrimonio emilianense en una bula de 1199. (Archivo de San Millán M. 41-52)". Berceo (in Spanish) (142): 65–76. ISSN 0210-8550.
  3. ^ San Millán Foundation
  4. ^ (in Spanish) Glosas en vascuence article by Juan Ángel Nieto Viguera on the Basque glosses
  5. ^ Álvarez Carbajal. "The Digital Edition of the Becerro Galicano de San Millán de la Cogolla (review)". RIDE. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  6. ^ San Millan
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