Rewriting the past. The Becerro Galicano as a reconstruction of the institutional history of San Millán de la Cogolla

Abstract

The Becerro Galicano, a late 12th century cartulary from San Millán de la Cogolla in the Rioja, is analysed from a variety of perspectives leading to a reevaluation of its purpose. It is compared with other source material from the same monastery, with the structures of other monastic cartularies, and evaluated within the context of the monastery’s own history. Particular emphasis is placed upon the cartulary’s structure, and comparison between the Galicano and the earlier Gótico cartulary, lost over a century ago but whose structure is recoverable from references made in the 18th century Colección Minguella, proves particularly instructive. As is the case with many cartularies of the period, the grandiose texts that open the Galicano prove to be falsifications, in this case absent from the Gótico. This leads us to the conclusion that the very first text, the Votos de San Millán, rather than being regarded as a late introduction should be considered an integral part of the cartulary. It is also striking that the cartulary is structured according to an anachronistic vision of diocesan geography that harks back to the 11th century when the abbots of the monastery simultaneously acted as bishops. Moreover, such a structure is not present in the earlier Gótico cartulary and would thus seem to have been consciously introduced into the Galicano, perhaps reflecting the longrunning conflict between San Millán and the surrounding bishoprics over tithes.