O Formigueiro: a Medieval Castle in The Land of Búbal (XIV-XV Centuries)

Abstract

This article will examine the history of Formigueiro’s Castle from its rising -carried out by the monastery of Oseira- to the transfer of the property to the Sarmiento lineage and its subsequent demolition in the context of the Irmandiños’ Wars. The Castle was rebuilt between the years 1477 and 1478 and ended up being definitively overthrown in the context of an anti-nobility policy of the Catholic Monarchs. Besides, this paper will bring light to the differentiation between this fortress and the neighbouring one of Alba de Búbal, trying to amend a mistake that has been perpetuated in previous academic research. All this work has been carried out from a rigorous direct study of the documentary sources, shaping the most relevant points according to the objectives of this project.