Castile

Castile refers to a historic and cultural region of central Spain, associated with the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. The name derives from castellum, meaning fortress, and historically the area was characterized by fortified towns and frontier towns during the medieval Christian reconquest. In modern Spain the term survives chiefly in the autonomous communities of Castile and León (Castilla y León) and Castile-La Mancha (Castilla-La Mancha), as well as in historical designations such as Old Castile (Castilla la Vieja) and New Castile (Castilla la Nueva).

In the Middle Ages, Castile emerged as a powerful kingdom within the Crown of Castile. It played a central role in the Christian reconquest and in the later union with the Crown of Aragon, which culminated in the union of the two crowns under the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, in 1469. This union laid the groundwork for a unified Spanish state and the overseas expansion of the 16th century. The region’s governance and institutions contributed to the development of a centralized monarchy and a centralized administration that influenced the broader Spanish realm.

Linguistically, Castile is associated with the Castilian language, which evolved in the region and became the basis for standard Spanish. The cultural heritage of Castile encompasses medieval and Renaissance architecture, literature, and governance, reflecting its historical role as a core core area of the Spanish state.

Today, Castile remains a historical and cultural reference within Spain, while political administration is carried out by its successor autonomous communities.