Kingdom of León

Libro abierto, hojas de plata, filo de oro, guardas de gules, tapas de sable.

Fernando II de León; 1167

Fernando II of León, 1167, Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum

Fernando II, King of León, «Carta Puebla de Benavente», Historical Archive of the City Council of Benavente, dated November 1167.

It is a document in which King Fernando II of León grants privileges to Benavente with the aim of repopulating this town.

The original document is a parchment measuring 60 x 43 centimeters, adorned in the upper right corner, right according to the heraldic criterion, with a Chi Rho from which hang an alpha and an omega. In what could be considered the navel of the charter is a rolled seal of the king formed by a lion, which I consider closer to rampant than passant, surrounded by a circular motto that reads «Signum Fernandi Regis Hispanorum» ~ «Sign of Fernando, King of the Spains». Additionally, this rolled seal is accompanied by the names of members of the chancery and prelates of the Kingdom of León, to confirm the grants recorded in the «Carta Puebla de Benavente».

This charter, also called the «Fuero de Benavente», is a beautiful example of local law and, since its promulgation in 1167, served as a model for other towns. In the following years, similar charters to that of Benavente were adopted in other towns of León, Asturias, and Galicia, with the one in La Coruña being a notable example.

The objective of the provisions of this charter was to favor the repopulation and settlement of new settlers in the town of Benavente, and its successful operation in this aspect led to its application in other places.

Facsimile edition, Benavente City Council, 2002

The original document is kept in the Municipal Archive of Benavente, forming part of its collection of royal privileges of Benavente. There is also a «facsimile» edition, like the one that illustrates this bibliographic reference, published in 2002 by the Benavente City Council on the occasion of the Commemoration of the VIII Centenary of the Benavente Courts.

Bibliographical reference of century XII.

Author: Fernando II de León.

External links:

Internal resources: FernandoII.24.Facsimil.CartaPueblaBenavente.pdf in armorial, Fernando II of León, key 104..