2021-04-23 Fri

Castile and Leon Day (Dia de Castilla y Leon) is celebrated annually on April 23 to commemorate the Battle of Villalar, which was fought in 1521 during the Revolt of the Comuneros.

The medieval kingdoms of Castile and Leon were formally unified in the late 12th century when Kings Alfonso VIII of Castile and Alfonso IX of Leon signed the Treaty of Tordehumos. Their unification was consolidated during the reign of King Ferdinand III.

On April 23, 1976, several months after Francisco Franco’s death and the start of Spain’s democratization, about 400 people gathered in Villalar to celebrate the anniversary of the battle. Sadly, they were dispersed by the Civil Guard, but this did nothing to discourage Castilians from celebrating the next year when about 20,000 people met to commemorate the battle. For a few years, the Battle of Villalar Day was celebrated unofficially.

In 1986, the government of Castile and Leon declared it an official holiday named Castile and Leon Day. The obverse of the coin depicts a crowned bust within lobular grafila. The reverse depicts castles and lions barracks.

Image Courtesy: lh3.googleusercontent.com