Rebranding San Millán: the Becerro Galicano as a rejection of the monastery's Navarrese heritage (1192–95)

The Becerro Galicano, created at San Millán de la Cogolla Monastery between 1192 and 1195, represents a strategic rebranding of the monastery's identity. This cartulary deliberately downplayed its Navarrese heritage in favor of emphasizing Castilian origins to counter claims from the bishopric of Calahorra. The study compares it with its predecessor, the lost Becerro Gótico, revealing a shift driven by regional warfare and ecclesiastical politics in 12th-century Rioja. By analyzing textual content and historical context, researchers demonstrate how the monastery used legal documentation to secure its territorial claims through higher ecclesiastical authorities.

Peterson, D. (2013). Rebranding San Millán: the Becerro Galicano as a rejection of the monastery’s Navarrese heritage (1192–95). Journal of Medieval Iberian Studies, 5(2), 184–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/17546559.2012.762538