The Males Roles During Medieval Spain

There are many aspects to being a male in the medieval times of Spain, whether you are a king, knight or peasant. To determine a man’s class was through their wealth and land owned. For example, men with more money, titles and more land had more rights, freedom, and dominance. The higher class for men were noblemen, knights, and kings. “Men were expected to exude dominance in order to be considered masculine, in terms of women, war, and authority”, - stated by Stoss, Laura R. (‘An Exploration of Conformity to Medieval Male and Female Roles in the Chronicle of Alfonso X’, 2013). First of all, due to society men had different expectancy compare to women. While women were expected to stay home and have children for their husbands, women did not get to decide when they were ready children their companions were the ones to decide when it was time to out-branch. “In order to portray these historical figures as an ideal male or female t,he chronicler explores what signified the archetypical mold of each gender to determine whether or not Alfonso X and Queen Violante did, in fact, conform to the traditional norms of medieval masculinity and femininity”, - informed from Stoss, Laura R. (‘An Exploration of Conformity to Medieval Male and Female Roles in the Chronicle of Alfonso X’, 2013). Men were only ones allowed to go fight in a war, especially the unwealthy men. Most peasants’ jobs were to serve richer men and women and farming. Richer men relied on their workers to work and take care of their land which most money was generated from their lands or inheritance. Middle-class men were usually employed by knights and noblemen and they work for the king. The wealthy had a say and vote to make in major decisions in society and in court.

The class above peasants are knights who go through a long process to become apart of the knighthood. They usually start out as a squire to a classified knight and live in a castle learning the skills and codes of chivalry. There are strict regulations to be in the knighthood. For instance, once a young man has passed they are not officially a knight until taking Holy Orders, oaths and go through ceremonies. The Code of Chivalry of the knighthood is to withhold courtly manners and love, to be brave and fearless in battle. The qualities of a knight's devotion, loyalty, courteous and generosity. The usual activities they were involved in was jousting, archery and hand to hand combat. The time of knighthood was in the “Medieval Spain started with the arrival of the Visigoths in the late 5th century to the end of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in the 16th century”, - informed by Medieval Chronicles ('Medieval Spain', 2014-2018). Chivalry in Spain created a clash between South Spain, the Moorish Rule and the Christian kingdoms of the North. Knights fought against the Moorish and won against their armies with bravery and courage. After those battles, “Many of these knights went on to amass enough political and military leverage to carve out their own independent dominions or to exert significant influence over one of the already existent Christian kingdoms”, - stated by Medieval Chronicles ('Famous Spanish Knights', 2014-2018). Within this time frame, there were two famously known knights in Spain. One of them was Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar but commonly known as El Cid. He was hailed in Castile, Spain during the 11th century. El Cid had helped King Sancho against the wars between him and his brother and as well as the Muslims. With El Cid by Sancho’s side, it expanded the territory of Castile. Sancho’s brother Ferdinand killed Sancho and took his throne and exiled El Cid. The knight went on to the Muslim rulers of Zaragoza and offered his services which led him to regain his independence and military excellence. Later on, he ruled Valencia with Alfonso. The second most commonly known knight in Spain was Reverter de la Guardia during the 12th century. Knight Guardia was hailed in Barcelona and was one of the finest warriors in this time period. In his early knighthood days, he did not accomplish much until he was captured by the Almoravids and was offered to Muslims against the Almoravids. As the knight succeeded between both armies it is said “According to some historical sources, he also probably led the entire Almoravid army at one period during this conflict. It has been speculated that his military prowess was one of the key factors that sustained the Almoravid dynasty in its final years” - by Medieval Chronicles ('Famous Spanish Knights', 2014-2018). But Reverter de la Guardia died 1142 in battle, which steered the Almoravids to collapse. The chivalry of Spain knights was not completely involved with the military, their orders were given to them by royalty and the pope.

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Spanish nobility is bestowed by heritance of the firstborn son of noble who would inherit the titles and honors of Spain next. It is not automatic it has to be approved by the court and the king himself. Nobility is not only granted through blood but can be granted by the king. There are even different classes within the nobility, they have all the same privileges but not grandeeships. This grandee title does not only apply to people with the title but anyone. “A grandee of any rank outranks a non-grandee, even if that non-grandee's title is of a higher degree”, - knowledge by Almanach de Saxe Gotha (‘Nobility of Spain’, 1995-2019).

In the course of Medieval Spain, the Christian kingdoms and independent Muslim dominions were in a dispute over the southern territories of Spain. Over decades the Spanish kingdoms campaign to regain the those lands from the Muslims. This influenced Spain into evolution. Beginning with Ferdinand I in the 11th century, the king of Leon. Within his reign he merged Leon and Castile as one and crowned himself Emperor of Spain. In 1056. He conduct many wars against Zaragoza, Toledo, Badajoz and Seville and due to those campaigns Muslims taifas paid tribute to Ferdinand. Before the king had died in 1057, he had redeemed Portugal and Valencia. Son of Ferdinand I, Alfonso VI inherited the kingdom of Leon the same year of his father’s death. Downstream of his reign he had fought against his brothers to expand his power. Alfonso VI had lost to his brothers until one of them had died and regained his throne of Leon, Castile and Galicia in 1077. He was as a fierce and chivalrous nobleman and the ‘Emperor of Spain’ as he followed his father’s path. Alfonso VI was influenced by the Papacy in Spain to forge ties with different realms. This king died in 1109 and led to Alfonso VII who became king in 1126 of Leon, Castile and Galicia and titled ‘Emperor of all Spain’. Alfonso VII led many campaigns against the Moors for the southern territories. “During his reign, the fighting with the Muslims to the south took on a more religious fervour as Alfonso VII became patron to different Church institutions within his realm” (Medieval Chronicles, 2014-2018). Not long after he ruled over both Christians and Muslims and was passionate for the art of patron and culture. “During his reign, culture and arts flourished in the Spanish court” (Medieval Chronicles, 2014-2018). Later on King Alfonso VII died in 1157. Ferdinand III of Castile was ruler of Leon, Castile and Galicia by 1230. Ferdinand III was one of the most significant kings that gave Reconquista in southern Spain. During his reign he pushed Leon and Castile to become one entity. His power lowered the Almoravids and the Moorish territory. Ferdinand III claimed the heartland of the Muslim land, Cordoba. And he had died in 1252.

The Medieval Spain had been battling for lands for 700 years because of this, the male roles were in the front to fight for Spain. What was expected of a man was courage and bravery like a knight. When readers like Don Quixote read about men in chivalry, he thought how they have manners, devotation and protect women and children. Because the world is no longer in such a state, however, 'the order of knight-errantry was instituted to defend maidens, to protect widows, and to rescue orphans and distressed persons', stated in story of Don Quixote. There various things that come with being a male in medieval time.