Couto Misto
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Couto Misto ( ; ; ) was an independent
microstate A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law. Some recent attempts to define microstates ...
on the border between Spain and Portugal. It comprised the villages of Santiago de Rubiás, Rubiás (now in the Spanish municipality of Calvos de Randín), and Meaus (now in the Spanish municipality of Baltar), all in the Salas Valley,
Ourense Ourense (; ) is a city and the capital of the province of province of Ourense, Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path o ...
, Galicia. The territory of the Couto Misto also included a small uninhabited strip now part of the Portuguese municipality of
Montalegre Montalegre (), officially the Town of Montalegre (), is a municipality in northern Portugal, located in the district of Vila Real, along the border with Spain. The population in 2011 was 10,537, in an area of 805.46 km². History Early con ...
. As a result of complex medieval
manorial Manorialism, also known as seigneurialism, the manor system or manorial system, was the method of land ownership (or "tenure") in parts of Europe, notably France and later England, during the Middle Ages. Its defining features included a large, ...
relations, this land eluded both Portuguese and Spanish control for centuries, actually operating as a
sovereign state A sovereign state is a State (polity), state that has the highest authority over a territory. It is commonly understood that Sovereignty#Sovereignty and independence, a sovereign state is independent. When referring to a specific polity, the ter ...
in its own right until the 1864 Treaty of Lisbon that partitioned the territory between Spain (which annexed most of the land including the three villages) and Portugal (which remained with a smaller uninhabited strip of land). As a '' de facto'' independent country, the inhabitants of the Couto Misto had many privileges, including exemption from military service and taxes, and could grant asylum to outsiders and deny access to any foreign military contingent. States and territories disestablished in 1864 States and territories disestablished in 1868


Origins

Even though the origins of the Couto Misto remain unclear, the name of this territory is revealing. The term ''couto'' (''coto'' in Spanish) comes from the Latin ''cautēs'' ("pointed rock"), which refers generally to an area demarcated with boundary stones (''cautos lapideos''). The term initially referred to the stones used to mark the boundaries of a given territory, but in the Middle Ages it was used to refer to a special set of territories which, under the feudal system, were exempt from the authority of the king, holding a special economic, political, and judicial regime. The special jurisdiction of the ''coutos'' was maintained through custom and given privileges, sustaining truly independent states within its boundaries that were defended by guards (''couteiros''). The adjective ''misto'', meaning "mixed" or "joint", probably refers to the dual
manorial Manorialism, also known as seigneurialism, the manor system or manorial system, was the method of land ownership (or "tenure") in parts of Europe, notably France and later England, during the Middle Ages. Its defining features included a large, ...
links of this territory with the feudal lords from the Duchy of Braganza and the earldom of Monte-Rei. Another interpretation, sustained by oral traditions and by some medieval documents (where the terms ''mystigos'' or ''místicos'' meaning mystical are used), links the origin of the Couto with the legend of a pregnant fugitive princess, allegedly (Saint) , who found refuge in the villages of this territory and who was to give birth to (Saint) Rudesind Guterri, granting privileges to its inhabitants in gratitude. This explanation may well be based on historical facts, as Ilduaria Eriz, one of the most important Galician aristocrats of the late 9th/early 10th century, held the regions of Limia, where the Couto is located, and also what today is northern Portugal, under her rule. Also, the location of Rudesind's birth has actually been placed in the Salas Valley. Several historians have dated the origins of the Couto in the same period as the emergence of the
Kingdom of Portugal The Kingdom of Portugal was a Portuguese monarchy, monarchy in the western Iberian Peninsula and the predecessor of the modern Portuguese Republic. Existing to various extents between 1139 and 1910, it was also known as the Kingdom of Portugal a ...
, somewhere around the 12th century, which is supported by documents that date back to the early 14th century. Initially the Couto was under the jurisdiction of Piconha Castle (originally Portuguese, but now within Spanish territory), but it eventually became tied to the noble houses of Braganza and Monte-Rei. With the extinction of ''coutos'' in Portugal, initiated in 1692, and concluded in 1790, the Couto Misto was freed from its feudal ties, functioning as a ''de facto'' independent state up to its partition and annexation in 1868.


Privileges

The privileges of Couto Mixto included nationality, taxes, military service, the right to bear arms, official postage stamps, self-government, right of asylum, fairs and markets, road rights of way and crops.


Current status

As the three villages of the Couto Misto are now separated in two different municipalities, the main reminder of the Couto Misto in the area are the
common land Common land is collective land (sometimes only open to those whose nation governs the land) in which all persons have certain common rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect wood, or to cut turf for fuel. A person ...
community trusts that continue to function in each of the villages under the old system of
popular assembly A popular assembly (or people's assembly) is a gathering called to address issues of importance to participants. Popular assemblies tend to be freely open to participation, in contrast to elected assemblies and randomly-selected citizens' as ...
. All three
commons The commons is the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of a society, including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable Earth. These resources are held in common even when owned privately or publicly. Commons ...
trusts were established in 1976, and incorporate for Rubiás, for Santiago de Rubiás and for Meaus. This common land represents most of the territory of the former Couto Misto. The trusts also maintain the claim of rights of common over the strip of land formerly part of the Couto Misto and now part of the Portuguese municipality of
Montalegre Montalegre (), officially the Town of Montalegre (), is a municipality in northern Portugal, located in the district of Vila Real, along the border with Spain. The population in 2011 was 10,537, in an area of 805.46 km². History Early con ...
. A complex legal case over a wind farm on the disputed strip was settled with Enersis, a multinational electric power corporation, with a compensation of €140,000 toward the trusts. Income from the common land trusts has had significant importance in community development over the past decades. Outside interest in the Couto re-emerged in the mid-1990s, leading to new research and subsequent academic publications. A joint summer program was organized by the
University of Vigo The University of Vigo () is a public university located in the city of Vigo in the Province of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. There are three campuses: * Campus of Vigo in Lagoas-Marcosende, 15 kilometres away from the city centre. Also known a ...
and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in 1999 focusing on the history of the Couto. In 1998, the nonprofit Asociación de Amigos do Couto Mixto (Couto Misto Friendship Association) was established, followed in 2003 by the Asociación de Veciños do Couto Mixto (Couto Misto Community Association). Both organizations have reestablished the figure of the '' Homens de Acordo'', with one person representing each village, and that of the ''Juiz Honorário'' (Honorary Judge) who is named each year in a ceremony held in the Church of Santiago. The Chest of the Three Keys has also been restored with each of the keys being kept in the custody of the current ''Homens de Acordo''. Political moves regarding the Couto Misto have led to debates and resolutions in the Galician, Spanish and European Parliaments. In May 2007, a motion (''Proposición no de ley'') was discussed and approved (with 303 votes in favour) by the
Spanish Parliament The (; ) are the bicameral legislative chambers of Spain, consisting of the Congress of Deputies (the lower house) and the Senate (the upper house). The Congress of Deputies meets in the Palacio de las Cortes. The Senate meets in the Palac ...
recognizing the singularity of the Couto Mixto as a historical and cultural enclave, and calling for measures that allow for the social and economic development of the territory. At the same time, a similar motion was approved by the Galician Parliament, also recognizing the historical singularity of the Couto. In 2008, a written question was presented at the
European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...
regarding the European Union's contribution to the revival of the Couto Mixto, defined as an "institution which was politically and administratively independent of the Spanish and Portuguese crowns". In 2016, a request was made for the inhabitants of the Couto to be granted Portuguese and Spanish
dual citizenship Multiple citizenship (or multiple nationality) is a person's legal status in which a person is at the same time recognized by more than one sovereign state, country under its nationality law, nationality and citizenship law as a national or cit ...
following the earlier case of
Olivenza Olivenza () or Olivença () is a town in southwestern Spain, close to the Portugal–Spain border. It is a municipality belonging to the province of Badajoz, and to the wider autonomous community of Extremadura. The town of Olivença was und ...
.


Gallery

File:Couto Misto no mapa de José de Castro López (1863).jpg, 1863 map of the Couto Misto File:Carta topográfica do Julgado de Montalegre 1836 Fidencio Bourman (Couto misto).jpg, Detail of the topographic map of Julgado de Montealegre (1836), by Fidencio Bourman, showing the Couto Misto File:Couto Misto.JPG, Commemorative plaque on the church of Santiago de Rubiás File:Meaus.JPG, A view of Meaus, one of the three villages that composed the Couto Mixto File:Igreja Santiago Rubias.JPG, Church of Santiago de Rubiás, one of the three villages that composed the Couto Mixto File:Camiño Privilexiado en Rubiás dos Mixtos.jpg, Part of the ''Caminho Privilegiado'' in Santiago de Rubiás File:Delfim Modesto Brandão - statue.jpg, Statue of Delfim Modesto Brandão, penultimate ''Juiz'' of the Couto Misto File:Couto Mixto IMG 9119 (9285051121).jpg, Restored Chest of the Three Keys


See also

* Delfim Modesto Brandão * Flag of the Couto Misto *
List of historical unrecognized states These lists of historical unrecognized or partially recognized states give an overview of extinct Geopolitics, geopolitical entities that wished to be recognized as sovereign states, but did not enjoy worldwide diplomatic recognition. The entries ...
*
Microstate A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law. Some recent attempts to define microstates ...
* Portuguese invasion of Couto Misto


References


Further reading

Books * * * * * * * * Articles * López Mira, Álvaro Xosé (2008). "O Couto Mixto: Autogoberno, fronteiras e soberanías distantes," in ''Madrygal'', 11: 35–39. * Rodríguez Cruz, José (2006). "O Couto Mixto. Lendas de tradición Oral," in ''Lethes'', 7: 28–33. * Hernández Figueirido, José Ramón (2006). "Couto Mixto, poboacións promiscuas e xeografía ecleasiástica," in ''Lethes'', 7: 34–48. * López Mira, Álvaro Xosé (2005). "A crise do estado en zonas fronteirizas: estudo de caso do Couto Mixto como modelo sociopolítico alternativo ao estado," in Pereira Menaut, Antonio Carlos and Rojo Salgado, Arjimiro, Eds., ''Multiconstitucionalismo e multigoberno: Estados e rexións na Unión Europea''. Santiago de Compostela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, pp. 177–184. * Campos, Xosé Maria (2003). "O Couto Misto: a que puido ser a Andorra Galega," in ''Alborada'', December 2003: 48–49. * Seara, Eliseu (2002). "O Couto Misto de Rubiás," in ''Revista Aqvae Flaviae'', 28: pp. 41–70 * Ledo Cabido, Bieito, Ed. (2002). "Couto Mixto," in ''Enciclopedia Galega Universal''. Vigo: Ir Ind

* López Mira, Álvaro Xosé (2001). "O dereito de participación política dos cidadáns do Couto Mixto," in ''Grial'', 152: 575–579. * García Mañá, Luís Manuel (2001). "Couto Mixto, unha república esquecida," in ''Tempo Exterior'',

* Morais, Maria João Moreira de (2000). "Os povos promsíscuos e o Couto Misto na raia transmontana/ourensana," in Kremer, Dieter, Ed., ''Actas do VI Congreso Internacional de Estudos Galegos''. Trier: Universität Trier, pp. 861–867. * Costa, João Gonçalves da (1968). "O Couto Misto de Rubiás," in ''Montalegre e terras de Barroso: notas históricas sobre Montalegre, freguesias do concelho e Região de Barroso''. Montalegre: Câmara Municipal de Montalegre, pp. 132 and ss.


Data

Motto: Tres Unum Sunt (Latin) "Three are One" Delfín Modesto Brandón (born in Tourém in 1835), was the penultimate head of state, since January 1863, according to his memoirs, having been succeeded by a last Judge whose mandate ended with the partition and annexation of the territory. Portugal renounces in favor of Spain all the rights it may have over the land of Coto Misto and over the towns located therein, which by virtue of the division determined by the described line remain in Spanish territory. —Article vii of the Treaty of Lisbon (1864).


External links


"Galegos de Cá e de Lá" documentary, 2008
*
Asociación de Amigos do Couto Mixto
*
Asociación de Veciños do Couto Mixto
*


European Parliament Question on the EU contribution to the revival of the Couto Mixto
*
Proposición non de lei sobre a divulgación do valor histórico e o desenvolvemento cultural e social do Couto Mixto (07/PNP-0335/20500)
*
Proposición no de Ley relativa al reconocimiento de la singularidad del Couto Mixto como enclave Histórico-Cultural (162/000507)

''La 'república independiente' del Couto''

''Os novos xuíces honorarios darán pulo ás tradicións culturais do Couto Mixto''

''Un Couto de cultura''
{{authority control 1864 disestablishments Former countries on the Iberian Peninsula History of Galicia (Spain) History of Portugal by polity States and territories established in the 12th century Territorial disputes of Spain Territorial disputes of Portugal Montalegre Former countries