Historian Dolores Carrasco delivered a lecture on Pedro I of Castile during the XVI Santiago Conferences in La Solana, where she proposed a new interpretation: the title of Prince of Asturias may have originated from the regicide committed in Montiel in 1369. The talk, titled Pedro I, precursor of a modern state, took place at the Aula San Juan de Ávila in the Casa de la Iglesia.
Paulino Sánchez, secretary of the Brotherhood of Santiago, introduced Carrasco, recalling the various interpretations that have historically surrounded the monarch's figure: “Pedro I was the Cruel to some and the Justiciero to others.” Carrasco, who is a graduate, history professor, and cultural councillor for the Town Hall of Montiel, explained that her locality has a special connection with the king, who was assassinated there in 1369 by his half-brother Henry II, the first monarch of the Trastámara dynasty. “He is part of our history, and we hold a deep affection for him,” she noted.
She highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Town Hall, associations, and residents to recover and promote the figure of Pedro I, which has materialised in various cultural and educational initiatives. Each March, around the 23rd, Montiel hosts medieval days that recreate the arrival of the monarch, his death, the funeral, and the battle. The town also organises a literary competition for local schools and a meeting of poets, alongside a park and a sculpture dedicated to his memory, where his birth is commemorated on 30 August. “The cultural life of Montiel revolves significantly around the figure of Pedro I,” she summarised.
Carrasco elaborated on three fundamental aspects to understand the character. The first was his political role and his attempts to transform the power structures of the time. She argued that Pedro I was “a century ahead, a precursor of what constitutes a modern state.” The second point addressed was the exact location of his death and the successive sites of his remains, noting that historical research points to a location near the Castle of the Star.
The highlight of the conference came with the third issue: the origin of the title Prince of Asturias and its direct connection to Pedro I's assassination. Carrasco asserted that this title originated in Montiel, linked to the need to legitimise and reconcile the two opposing dynastic lines after the regicide. This interpretation also allows for a reassessment of Pedro I's historical standing, reminding that Isabella I of Castile and Philip II rejected the label of “the Cruel,” as it implied portraying him as a tyrant. Carrasco prefers the title of “the Justiciero.”
The conference was part of the XVI Santiago Conferences, which run from 10 to 14 November, featuring a programme of three lectures aimed at delving into various episodes and figures from history.
