Alfonso X and Galicia: A look at the cultural diversity of the Middle Ages

Alfonso X and Galicia: A look at the cultural diversity of the Middle Ages

On October 7, 2025, the exhibition “Alfons X and Galicia” opened in the Helsinki building of the European University of Flensburg. This remarkable show is on view until the end of October 2025 and is dedicated to the life and work of Alfonso X, who lived from 1221 to 1284 and is also known as the Wise. As King of Castile, León and Galicia, he played a crucial role in promoting science, art and literature in several languages: Latin, Castilian and Galician-Portuguese.

This exhibition is a fascinating journey into the past that highlights the cultural connections between Galicia and Europe in the 13th century. Budding scientists and the general public are warmly invited to experience the interdisciplinary tour, which leads through five thematic areas and is not structured chronologically. The focus is particularly on Alfons X's human, political, scientific, historical and cultural activities. Exhibits such as replicas of his working environment, manuscripts, miniatures, musical instruments and projections from the Cantigas de Santa María enrich the experience.

The legacy of Alfonso X

A special area of ​​the exhibition is everyday life in the Middle Ages based on the “Códice Rico”. Visitors can use QR codes to gain access to additional texts, music and information, which underlines the complex meaning of Alfons X. Prof. Dr. Eva Gugenberger spoke at the opening about the historical and cultural significance of Alfons X, while Dr. Reyna-Muniain addressed its legacy from a multicultural perspective. The lecture series was supported by the expertise of Prof. Dr. Rosario Álvarez and Prof. Dr. Henrique Monteagudo, who explained the importance of power, cultures and languages ​​in relation to Galician cultural heritage. The lectures took place in several languages, including German, Spanish, Galician and English, highlighting multilingualism as the central idea of ​​the exhibition.

At the same time, the traveling exhibition “Alfonso the Wise and Galicia” can be seen in the Kiel University Library until June 2, 2025. This exhibition is dedicated to the Castilian king and his role as a bridge builder between different languages ​​and cultures. Students from the Romance language seminar at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel expanded the contents of the exhibition and translated them into German. In addition, the king is presented from a Galician perspective, clearly in terms of language and culture.

The importance of multilingualism

The exhibition shows the cultural enrichment that comes from Galician and the importance of multilingualism. By providing content in Galician, Castilian and Old Spanish texts, Alfonso X's legacy is comprehensively documented. The CAU's Romance Seminar also has a Center for Galician Studies (CEG), which receives financial support from the Galician regional government.

The exhibition is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In summary, the importance of Alfons X for European cultural history and the interconnection of different language and cultural areas is impressively conveyed. The works of Alfons X are not only historically significant, but also invite reflection on multilingualism in today's society.

For deeper insights into the topics of multilingualism in the Middle Ages, please refer to the publication “Multilingualism in the Middle Ages: Cultural, literary, linguistic and didactic constellations in a European perspective”, edited by Michael Baldzuhn and Christine Putzo.