The Scholarly Pilgrim - History of the Camino de Santiago

This episode will discuss how the shrine of St James, town of Compostela and the Camino de Santiago started to evolve after the supposed discovery of the tomb of St James in the first half of the 9th c. It will also explain how increasing wealth of the shrine led it to become a target of Viking and Muslim raiders. It will further show how early royal patrons increased the prestige of the shrine while developing and protecting the initial pilgrimage route.

What inspired medieval pilgrims to leave their homes and undertake the long and perilous journey to Santiago de Compostela, particularly during the twelfth century, the golden age of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage? This episode will discuss these motivating factors including salvation and miracles. It will also explain Church expectations about the moral standards that pilgrims were expected to follow. In doing so, it will shed light on broader medieval attitudes concerning spirituality.

This episode discusses legends that describe how the bodily remains of St James made their way to Spain from the Holy Land and how they were eventually discovered hundreds of years later. It also explains how the church in Santiago de Compostela communicated and reinforced these stories to support the cult of St James, particularly during the twelfth century, the golden age of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.