For Oak Hill Walkers: Any walkers really

[Priscillian]

Oak Hill Walkers (who I am sure must be one individial) recently posted some marvellous historical information to me on the "Seminario Closed until...." thread. Please do see...it's good stuff.

Since the Seminario is now open, sponsored by a private Travel Agency, and rather...um, expensive, I thought I would re-post here and I hope that OHW won't mind.

If there is one thing I am doing right now it is concentrating on the history of the Camino as part of my research into my next book "Compostela".

Later this year I hope to add the Muxia - Finisterre route to my Caminos and then I'll be asking the usual questions about terrain, albergues etc., but for now, it is the historical roots I am more intersted in.

Your reply was very instructive, and thank you, but much of it necessarily calls upon the Historia Compostelana which only gives us the history of the times (late 11th - mid 12th) century; however, it invites us to ask lots of questions.

Many pilgrims are unaware of this book, I certainly too, as in my first Camino when I took for granted what I read in my guidebooks, but what the HC (only in Spanish so far - sorry beyond my ability to translate!) gives is the agrandisement of Bishop, later Archbishop Diego Gelmirez who commissioned the book. Needless to say, it says nice things about Diego Gelmirez.

I've been doing a lot of investigation into this bishop. He was a monster! But a successful monster and in many ways - as I am finding out more and more - a sort of likable one. He was Saint James "spin doctor": he put Santiago as a city on the map (it was just called Compostela before) and made a lot of money for his city (and himself!) by doing so.

But you can't help ended up liking the guy! Even his biographers refer to him by his first name and he managed to end up frequently in the $/!? and came up smelling of roses! How he managed it time after time I don't know, but I think it was more money and power than charm.

Most people can't imagine a bishop who could virtually hold a Queen to ransom, nor one who would have his own navy (the first in Spain). But Diego did it!

Anyway, as you know I tried, without much luck, to find out more about his predecessor, Diego Pelaez who was the bishop who began to rebuild the Cathedral of Santiago as we know it (there were two before). He was Bishop for 13 years (from 1075 to 1088) but was arrested on the charges of "Treason" and imprisoned. The HC suggests he might have even been trying to hand over Gallicia to William the Conqueror and the Normans! There may even be a grain of truth in it - but why, we'll never know. (Though I have my ideas see below...) Since all the records have somehow disappeared (?) all we really have is what is written about him in the Historia Compostela. i.e. not much, and not sympathetic. I personally don't think that Diego Gelmirez (who succeeded him) kept his hands entirely clean in this issue and that's partly what Compostela the new book will be about (and lots of intrigue and ghost stories!).

What truly fascinates me is that Diego Gelmirez, having lorded it over everyone - including those who loathed him, even tried to murder him - in Compostela for 40 years, disappeared upon his death. Nobody I have spoken with has the faintest idea where he is buried...

And there hangs the tail.

Anyway, lots of parentheses and ... but I hope it grabs your interest. I have a recent article in a Spanish newspaper. If I can find the online link I'll post it here soon. First time pilgrims, you may be surprised. There's lots more if you Google "Priscillian".
Don't Believe Everything They Tell You!

If you would like to follow my research do please see: www.pilgrimagetoheresy.blogspot.com
and for more information about the origins of the Cult of Santiago (though long, long before the so-called discovery of his remains) do please check out
www.pilgrimagetoheresy.com
Lovely to receive your response.
Tracy Saunders
Pilgrimage to Heresy/Peregrinos de la Herej?a

(Admin please move if you feel it is necessary.)

[Covey]

[QUOTE=Priscillian;3571]Oak Hill Walkers

"What truly fascinates me is that Diego Gelmirez, having lorded it over everyone - including those who loathed him, even tried to murder him - in Compostela for 40 years, disappeared upon his death. Nobody I have spoken with has the faintest idea where he is buried...

And there hangs the tail."


Maybe it is his bones in the tomb in the Cathedral. I have occasionally wondered how an Apostle who died in Damascus, Syria, ended up in northern rural Spain in a very small town which just happened to need a USP to boost the tourist trade!!

[Leslie]

Why do you think we have a monster that is never seen in a Loch in Scotland?

If you don't really have a USP - make one up, it works just as well.

[Covey]

True!!

All for a Myth!!

[Priscillian]

Here's the Link I promised to Sur in English (the English-language version of Diario Sur). Click on the page reference to pages 38 and 39 (bottom left) for the article which may be of interest to peregrinos past present and future. Or, if you would like to learn what is topical for ex-pats here in the south of Spain, you can "turn over" the pages at the bottom right hand corner of the newspaper itself. It's kinda fun!
I liked the idea that Diego might be the occupant of the tomb! ?Que guay!
I still stick by Priscillian but, hey...you never know!
Tracy Saunders
www.pilgrimagetoheresy.com
www.pilgrimagetoheresy.blogspot.com (where you can read my ongoing research into "Compostela" the next book in the Camino Chronicles)
or
www.editorial.boveda.com for more info about the Spanish version