San Millán de la Cogolla

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.

San Millán de la Cogolla
Municipality
Flag of San Millán de la Cogolla
Flag
Coat of arms of San Millán de la Cogolla
Coat of arms
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
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 has a claim to being the birthplace of the Spanish language.[2] The area is Spanish-speaking but some of the local place-names are of Basque origin, and there is evidence that Basque was spoken locally a thousand years ago (see Glosas Emilianenses).

Jews were living here as early as at Nájera, and they suffered greatly in the civil war between Peter of Castile and Henry II of Castile. On October 15, 1369, at the request of the directors of the small aljama of San Millán, whose cause was advocated by "certain Jews who were received at court," Henry II of Castile ordered that "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.[3]

Etymology

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.[4] The other part of the name is taken from a 6th-century saint (Saint Emilianus or San Millán) who lived here.

Politics
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

See also

References
  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. San Millán Foundation
  3. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=215&letter=S&search=san%20millan
  4. 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.
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