Leonese people
Encyclopedia
The Leoneses are an ethnic group
whose homeland is the former Kingdom of León
, now region of Leon
which was a country in Southwestern Europe, embracing a territory situated in the north-west of Spain and northeast of Portugal. The languages of León are the Leonese language
and Spanish in Spain and Leonese language
and Portuguese in Portugal. A variety of Leonese language, called Mirandese is spoken in Mirando de l Douro Region of Portugal.
Leonese Kingdom
was an independent country in the Middle Ages, keeping its status as a kingdom under the Spanish rule until the 1833 territorial division of Spain
.
The former Kingdom of León
was mainly divided in three historical regions: Asturias, León and Extremadura
, with the southern territories integrated into Andalucía, and some of the eastern territories into Castile. Spanish division of 1833 recognised as Leonese the provinces of León, Salamanca and Zamora. They are now part of Castile and León
and have lost their distinct identity as they fused with Old Castile. Many people consider, albeit erroneously, the Leonese provinces to be part of Castile (Old Castile), and the Leonese to be Castilian, just like the Manchegos.
There are Leonese minorities in the District of Bragança (Portugal) that maintain the Leonese culture and Leonese language
, mainly in the northwest (Riodonor, Guadramil) and in the Land of Miranda, where a Leonese
dialect known as Mirandese was officially recognised by the Parliament of Portugal.
with contributions from the pre-Roman languages which were spoken in the territory of the Spanish provinces of León
, Zamora
, and Salamanca
and in some villages in the District of Bragança, Portugal. Close to Mirandese and Asturian or Bable, it belongs to Leonese or Astur-Leonese subgroup of Iberian languages
.
Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom
in the Middle Ages, and achieved a high codification grade.
First written text in Leonese is Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974), and so others like Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María or Llibru d'Alixandre were written in Leonese
The situation of Leonese as minorized language has driven Leonese to near extinction and is considered a seriously endangered language
by the UNESCO
. There are some efforts to gain acceptance among the urban population (the Leonese Council and other municipalities such as Zamora, Coyanza, Mansilla de las Mulas or La Bañeza made campaigns in and for teaching Leonese).
Wines
Sweets
Association fights for a Top Level Domain for the Leonese language
and culture. There are more than 700 signers and 44 organisations added.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
whose homeland is the former Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
, now region of Leon
León (historical region)
The region of León or Leonese region is a hitoric territory defined by the 1833 Spanish administrative organisation. The Leonese region encompassed the provinces of Salamanca, Zamora, and León, now part of the modern Spanish autonomous community of Castile and León.-Leonese History:Until 1833, the...
which was a country in Southwestern Europe, embracing a territory situated in the north-west of Spain and northeast of Portugal. The languages of León are the Leonese language
Leonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
and Spanish in Spain and Leonese language
Leonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
and Portuguese in Portugal. A variety of Leonese language, called Mirandese is spoken in Mirando de l Douro Region of Portugal.
Leonese Kingdom
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
was an independent country in the Middle Ages, keeping its status as a kingdom under the Spanish rule until the 1833 territorial division of Spain
1833 territorial division of Spain
The 1833 territorial division of Spain divided Spain into provinces, classified into "historic regions" . on the official web site of the government of the Canary Islands, accessed 2009-12-31...
.
Political and administrative divisions
- Spain
The former Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
was mainly divided in three historical regions: Asturias, León and Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, with the southern territories integrated into Andalucía, and some of the eastern territories into Castile. Spanish division of 1833 recognised as Leonese the provinces of León, Salamanca and Zamora. They are now part of Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
and have lost their distinct identity as they fused with Old Castile. Many people consider, albeit erroneously, the Leonese provinces to be part of Castile (Old Castile), and the Leonese to be Castilian, just like the Manchegos.
- Portugal
There are Leonese minorities in the District of Bragança (Portugal) that maintain the Leonese culture and Leonese language
Leonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
, mainly in the northwest (Riodonor, Guadramil) and in the Land of Miranda, where a Leonese
Leonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
dialect known as Mirandese was officially recognised by the Parliament of Portugal.
Leonese language
The Leonese language (Llingua Llïonesa in Leonese) was developed from Vulgar LatinVulgar Latin
Vulgar Latin is any of the nonstandard forms of Latin from which the Romance languages developed. Because of its nonstandard nature, it had no official orthography. All written works used Classical Latin, with very few exceptions...
with contributions from the pre-Roman languages which were spoken in the territory of the Spanish provinces of León
León (province)
León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.About one quarter of its population of 500,200 lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter....
, Zamora
Zamora (province)
Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.The present-day province of Zamora province was one of three provinces formed from the former Kingdom of León in 1833, when Spain was re-organised into 49 provinces.It is bordered by...
, and Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
and in some villages in the District of Bragança, Portugal. Close to Mirandese and Asturian or Bable, it belongs to Leonese or Astur-Leonese subgroup of Iberian languages
Iberian languages
Iberian languages is a generic term for the languages currently or formerly spoken in the Iberian Peninsula.- Pre-Roman languages :The following languages were spoken in the Iberian Peninsula before the Roman occupation and the spread of the Latin language.* Aquitanian * Proto-Basque* Tartessian*...
.
Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
in the Middle Ages, and achieved a high codification grade.
First written text in Leonese is Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974), and so others like Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María or Llibru d'Alixandre were written in Leonese
The situation of Leonese as minorized language has driven Leonese to near extinction and is considered a seriously endangered language
Endangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
by the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. There are some efforts to gain acceptance among the urban population (the Leonese Council and other municipalities such as Zamora, Coyanza, Mansilla de las Mulas or La Bañeza made campaigns in and for teaching Leonese).
Leonese cuisine
Embutidos- CecinaCecinaCecina may refer to:*Cecina, Tuscany, a town in the Italian Province of Livorno*Cecina , a river in Italy*Cecina , a Spanish and Mexican culinary specialty made of beef*Farinata, a Tuscan culinary specialty made of chickpea flour...
from León: from beef. In LeoneseLeonese languageThe Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
, cecina means "meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke". Cecina de León is made of the hind legs of beef, salted, smoked and air-dried in the province of LeónLeón (province)León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.About one quarter of its population of 500,200 lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter....
in Northwestern Spain, and has PGIProtected designation of originProtected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
status.
- BotilloBotilloBotillo , Botelo or Butiellu , is a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine. It is a culinary specialty of El Bierzo, a county in the Spanish province of León and also of the region of Trás-os-Montes, in Portugal...
: from pig. Traditionally made in the western leonese regions. Botiellu, in Leonese languageLeonese languageThe Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
, is a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine. It is a culinary specialty of El Bierzo, a county in the Spanish province of León and also of the region of Trás-os-Montes, in Portugal. This type of Embutido is a meat product made from different pieces left over from the butchering of a pig, including the ribs, tail, and bones with a little meat left on them. These are chopped; seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and other spices; stuffed in the cecum of the pig; and partly cured via smoking. It can also include the pig's tongue, shoulder blade, jaw, and backbone, but never exceeding 20% of the total volume. It is normally consumed cooked, covered with a sheet. Also has a PGIProtected designation of originProtected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
status.
- Farinato
Wines
- Bierzo: in the west of the Province of León and covers about 3000 km² (1,158.3 sq mi). The area consists of numerous small valleys in the mountainous part (Alto Bierzo) and of a wide, flat plain (Bajo Bierzo). The DO covers 23 municipalities.
- Tierras de León: in the southeast of the Province of León.
- Toro: in the east of the Province of Zamora.
- Arribes: in the southeast of the in the southeast of the Province of Zamora and the northwest of the Province of Salamanca. There are 750 ha of vineyards registered with the Consejo Regulador (Governing Body)
Sweets
- Mantecadas de Astorga.
- Hojaldres de Astorga.
- Lazos de San Guillermo.
- Nicanores de Boñar.
Nationalism and history
There are Leoneses political parties who claim for an independent autonomous community for the Leonese provincies.TLD Campaign
PuntuLLIPuntuLLI
PuntuLLI is an association that promotes the creation of a top level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet for the Leonese language and culture.-Objectives:PuntuLLI has three main efforts:...
Association fights for a Top Level Domain for the Leonese language
Leonese language
The Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
and culture. There are more than 700 signers and 44 organisations added.
See also
- Leonese languageLeonese languageThe Leonese language is the endonym term used to refer to all vernacular Romance dialects of the Astur-Leonese linguistic group in the Spanish provinces of León and Zamora; Astur-Leonese also includes the dialects...
- Kingdom of LeónKingdom of LeónThe Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
- Province of León
- Province of Salamanca
- Province of Zamora
- Nationalities of SpainNationalities of SpainNationalities of Spain can refer to:*A Spanish constitutional designation of certain subnational political entities *Spaniards, as a people from Spain.*A member of a foreign nationality living in Spain....
- Spanish peopleSpanish peopleThe Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
External links
- http://www.puntulli.org/ Top Level Domain for Leonese language
- http://www.elfueyu.net/ Leonese language Association
- http://www.eltoralin.com/ Leonese language Association from El Bierzo
- http://www.aytoleon.es/ Leonese City Council
- http://www.dipuleon.es/ Leonese Provincial Council