Franconia (pilgrims)
As Franks (Franci, Franco) were in Italy and Spain , the Pilgrims referred to from beyond the Alps or the Pyrenees - the settlement areas of francs - to Rome or Santiago de Compostela came. The actual origin played a subordinate role.
The traces of these pilgrims can be found in
- Family name - the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is likely to be the descendant of Franconian pilgrims
- in place names - Villafranca de ...
- on behalf of the pilgrimage routes - Camino Francés ( Way of St. James ), Via Francigena
- in street names - Rua de Francos, the oldest street in Santiago de Compostela where Franconian pilgrims settled
- in architecture , customs and language.
The 'Franconian' pilgrims settled in the respective country after their pilgrimages. In the case of Spain , the local rulers did their utmost to promote this. Just as the Jacobean cult was an ideological necessity for the successful Reconquista , the recaptured areas had to be repopulated. By founding privileged Franconian settlements , the kings there brought financial strength and know-how into the country. Examples of cities on the Way of St. James that were founded as Franconian settlements or that flourished as such are Puente la Reina , Estella , Logrono , Villafranca de Montes de Oca and Villafranca del Bierzo .