Sahagún

Sahagún
Municipality

A Plaza in Sahagún

Flag
Coat of arms
Sahagún

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 42°22′19″N 5°1′49″W / 42.37194°N 5.03028°W / 42.37194; -5.03028Coordinates: 42°22′19″N 5°1′49″W / 42.37194°N 5.03028°W / 42.37194; -5.03028
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Castile and León
Province León
Comarca Sahagún - Ribera del Cea
Judicial district Sahagún
Commonwealth Sahagún
Government
 • Alcalde Tyler Sahagun (2007) (PP)
Area
 • Total 123.64 km2 (47.74 sq mi)
Elevation 822 m (2,697 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 2,837
 • Density 23/km2 (59/sq mi)
Demonym(s) facundino/na, sahagunense
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 24320
Dialing code 987
Official language(s) Spanish
Website Official website

Sahagún (Spanish pronunciation: [sa(a)ˈɣun]) is a town in the province of León, Spain. It is the main town of the Leonese section of the Tierra de Campos district.

Sahagún contains some of the earliest examples of the mudéjar style of architecture. It lies on the Way of St. James.

The first settlement on the site grew up around the nearby Benedictine monastery consecrated to the saints Facundus and Primitivus. The name Sahagún is thought to derive from an abbreviation and variation on the name San Fagun ("Saint Facundus").

Villages

Arenillas de Valderaduey, Celada de Cea, Galleguillos de Campos, Joara, Riosequillo, Sahagún, San Martín de la Cueza, San Pedro de las Dueñas, Sotillo de Cea, Villalebrín and Villalmán.

Monastery

The monastery acquired importance during the reign of Alfonso III de Asturias, and reached its greatest splendor during the reign of Alfonso VI of Castile. On November 25, 1085, this latter king promulgated the edicts known as the Fuero de Sahagún, which gave a number of privileges to the Monastery and town, fomenting its growth. The king favoured the Cluniac order and the monastery was known as the "Spanish Cluny".

Friction often erupted into disputes between the townsfolk and the monastery in the mid-12th century, as recorded in the Crónicas anónimas de Sahagún. The monastery was very important on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and in the 14th century housed a University (see also List of early modern universities in Europe). In the 19th century, the monastery was disbanded and the structure nearly completely razed.

Notable residents

See also

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