El derecho de la villa de Santillana del Mar a través de su fuero (1209)

Abstract

The grant of a charter to the town of Santillana del Mar in 1209, although with interests different from those presented by its maritime policy, should be considered within the framework of King Alfonso VIIIs policy towards the northern towns of the Kingdom of Castile which were also endowed with charters: Castro Urdiales (1163), Santander (1187), Laredo (1200) and later San Vicente de la Barquera (1210). Indeed, the grant of the charter to Santillana represented the institutional regulation of the relations between the Lord Abbot of the local abbey and the residents of the new town, fostering notable economic growth there thanks to the establishment of new settlers who, drawn by the advantages of the Charter, devoted themselves to the cultivation of the new cleared lands and to economic and craft activities which were channelled through the towns market. The Charter of Santillana, together with that of Santander, forms part of the large family of charters of another town under the abadengo regime of abbatial lordship, Sahagún (1085, 1152), which had a privilege legal system of Frankish origin, common to all the towns of this group.