Podcast Summary: "Acontece que no es poco | Nace el Reino de Valencia. Arranca la identidad valenciana"
Todo Concostrina — SER Podcast | Aired: September 28, 2023
Hosted by: Nieves Concostrina

Overview

In this lively and characteristically witty episode of "Acontece que no es poco," Nieves Concostrina delves into the 785th anniversary of the birth of the Kingdom of Valencia (28th September, 1238), exploring how its conquest led to the formation of a distinct Valencian identity. With historical sharpness, Nieves recounts the events around the surrender of Muslim Valancia (Valancilla), the arrival of Jaime I "El Conquistador," and the centuries-long process by which Valencians came to see themselves as a unique people. The episode links these historical roots to present-day regional tensions and celebrations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: The Importance of Regional Identity in Spain

• The episode opens contextualizing Spain’s current "efervescencia política" and territorial debates, arguing that understanding historical identity helps explain ongoing tensions (00:19-01:03).
• Quote: “El llamado tema territorial o modelo territorial es seguramente la gran patata caliente de la política española. Así que a lo mejor un poquito de historia, pues no va mal.” — Presentador (00:21)

The Conquest of Valencia (28th September, 1238)

• Valencia’s Surrender:
  Valencia, then "Valancilla," was a Muslim kingdom under Almohad control for over 500 years (03:18-03:45).
• The Siege:
  After months besieged by the forces of Jaime I, the city surrendered, marking the start of both the Kingdom of Valencia and its collective identity (01:29-01:55).
• The Human Side of History:
  Jaime I’s own account is cited, describing the emotional moment of entering the city, seeing his banner, and kissing the ground:
  • Quote: “Vimos nuestra bandera... desmontamos de nuestro caballo... lloramos... besamos la tierra por la gran misericordia que Dios nos había dado.” — Jaume I, as paraphrased by Nieves (04:00)

Language, Identity, and Cronicles

• Jaime I’s chronicle, the "Llibre dels Fets," was written in Catalan, not Castilian, underscoring the multilingual nature of the Crown of Aragon (05:11-05:35).
• The story of the first Valencian flag — painted hastily by the vanquished, evolving over time into the current "senyera" (05:41-06:58).
  • Quote: “La cruz y Mahoma les importaban un carajo a todos. Lo hacían por extender los dominios…” — Nieves (03:48)

Why Did Valencia Remain a Distinct Kingdom?

• Fueros y autonomía:
  Jaime I granted Valencia its own "fueros," institutions, coinage, taxes, and administration, rather than merging it wholly into Aragon (07:46-09:14).
• The decision angered Aragonese nobles but, per Jaime’s rationale, the conquest’s diversity demanded autonomy.
  • Quote: “El Reino de Valencia quedaría sometido a la Corona de Aragón... pero los valencianos irían a lo suyo, a su bola.” — Nieves (08:15)
• This fostered regional pride among Valencians and Mallorcans, while Aragonesists saw it as a dilution of their power.

Cultural Legacy and Integration

• Following the conquest, Christian settlers (mostly Catalans, then Aragonese) repopulated the region but retained distinct identities for about a century (10:08–11:46).
• The term “valensano” appears in documents from 1333, signifying the first acknowledgment of a unique Valencian identity.
• The profound Arab legacy persisted in agriculture, water management, and gastronomy (e.g., chufa and horchata).

The Day of the Valencian Community and the Senyera

• The current holiday (9th October) commemorates Jaime I’s entrance into Valencia, not the day of surrender.
• The "Real Senyera" — designed over a century later — now symbolizes the region, distinct from the original "Pendón de la Conquista" (11:46-12:50).

Reflections on Identity and Historical Memory

• Nieves emphasizes that identities are not spontaneous but are shaped by centuries of history, resistance, and assimilation: "Las identidades no surgen como setas…" (12:59)
• The episode calls for empathy and historical understanding in modern regional debates.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Conquest’s Motives:
  "La cruz y Mahoma les importaban un carajo a todos. Lo hacían por extender los dominios, por aumentar sus territorios, la parcela y por ejercer más poder sobre más súbditos." — Nieves (03:48)

• Jaime I's Surrender Scene:
  "Estábamos en la rambla... lloramos desde nuestros ojos y besamos la tierra por la gran misericordia que Dios nos había dado." — Parafraseando a Jaime I (04:00)

• On Identity Formation:
  "Eso se te va metiendo en la pituitaria y en el cerebelo. Y más vale entender eso antes que pretender derribar un sentimiento a cachiporrazos o a golpe de prohibición." — Nieves (01:55)

• On Autonomy’s Impact:
  “El Reino de Valencia quedaría sometido a la soberanía de la Corona de Aragón. Por supuesto, el que mandaba era el rey de Aragón, pero los valencianos irían a lo suyo, a su bola.” — Nieves (08:15)

• Historical Irony:
  “El Reino de Valencia tuvo 469 años de existencia y sólo han pasado 316 desde que vinieron a fastidiar los Borbones. ¿Cómo no van a tener en Xàtiva el retrato de Felipe V boca abajo?” — Nieves (12:59)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction & Theme Context: 00:19–01:03
• Birth of the Kingdom of Valencia: 01:03–01:55
• Conquest Details & Jaime I’s Perspective: 03:18–06:58
• Language, Identity, and the Flag: 05:11–06:58
• Reason for Valencia’s Autonomy: 07:46–09:14
• Post-Conquest Integration & Cultural Legacy: 10:08–11:46
• Day of Valencia & Senyera: 11:46–12:50
• Reflection on Historical Identity: 12:50–end

Tone and Final Thoughts

True to her style, Nieves turns a dense historical episode into a sharp, humorous, and human chronicle, underlining how the creation of the Kingdom of Valencia was the outcome of both political expediency and complex, layered cultural integration. The birth of the Valencian identity, she reminds us, resonates across the centuries, shaping not just celebrations and flags, but also political sensibilities and debates on unity versus diversity in Spain.

Listen for:
Engaging narration, historical anecdotes, Valencian folk music interludes, and Concostrina’s trademark irreverence and critical insight.