Aproximación al concejo de la ciudad de Santiago de Compostela y su configuración en la Edad Media. Un poder urbano en el señorío eclesiástico

AbstractThe study of the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela is generally centred on the ecclesiastical sphere, characterized by its cathedral, the episcopacy and the pilgrimage route. This analysis has left certain segments of study in need of further research in order to define social and political relationships in one of the main Peninsular cities of ecclesiastical lordship. This is primarily the case of the town council and its relation to the main Compostelan feudal power. This article offers an initial examination of the urban institution in the later medieval period. The purpose is to unveil its structure after a brief look at its evolution up to the later Middle Ages. This analysis will focus on its members in the second half of the thirteenth century (justices, notaries and keepers of the seal); the materialization of power as viewed in the records of the first third of the fourteenth century with respect to a royal privilege negotiated by the prelate Berenguel de Landoira; and with the members of the town council in the fifteenth century and the consent of the regidores and procuradores. The analysis will conclude with a sketch of the main functions assumed by the institution, namely urbanism, justice, public order, economic issues, and supply and trade. El estudio de la ciudad medieval de Santiago de Compostela viene marcado generalmente por el ámbito eclesiástico, materializado en su catedral, el episcopado y la peregrinación. Estos análisis han dejado ciertos segmentos necesitados de profundidad a la hora de definir las relaciones sociales y de poder político en una de las principales urbes peninsulares de señorío eclesiástico; es el caso, principalmente, del poder concejil y su relación con el poder feudal compostelano. Este artículo ofrece una aproximación y sistematización monográfica de la institución urbana en los siglos medievales, atendiendo principalmente a sus integrantes (justicias, notarios y guardianes del sello, a los que se añaden luego regidores y homes boos) en tiempos del concilium y del regimiento, y a las funciones que desarrolla, a saber: urbanismo; justicia; orden público; economía común; y abastecimiento y comercio.AbstractThe study of the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela is generally centred on the ecclesiastical sphere, characterized by its cathedral, the episcopacy and the pilgrimage route. This analysis has left certain segments of study in need of further research in order to define social and political relationships in one of the main Peninsular cities of ecclesiastical lordship. This is primarily the case of the town council and its relation to the main Compostelan feudal power. This article offers an initial examination of the urban institution in the later medieval period. The purpose is to unveil its structure after a brief look at its evolution up to the later Middle Ages. This analysis will focus on its members in the second half of the thirteenth century (justices, notaries and keepers of the seal); the materialization of power as viewed in the records of the first third of the fourteenth century with respect to a royal privilege negotiated by the prelate Berenguel de Landoira; and with the members of the town council in the fifteenth century and the consent of the regidores and procuradores. The analysis will conclude with a sketch of the main functions assumed by the institution, namely urbanism, justice, public order, economic issues, and supply and trade