Castle origins

We have little information on the construction of the castle and mostly is indirect or even confusing. But there is consensus on attributing the fortress to Archbishop Xoán Arias. This appears in later documents but, most importantly, texts of his time mention an archbishop’s residence at Rocha Forte.

The documents

Unlike his successors in the office, Archbishop Xoán Arias did not have (that we know of) chroniclers that kept record of his decisions while in office. But we do have other documents where the existence of the castle is recorded. The first mention appears in 1253, in a ruling by Afonso X by reason of a dispute between the archbishop and the City Council of Santiago on the exercise of justice and the innovations that Xoán Arias wished to introduce:

«Otrosy, querelaron los pesoneros sobredichos del Conceyo de Santiago que se alguno de la uila ha preyto con otro, primeyramiente es tenudo de Responder por ante los juyzes de la uila; et agora que uos, que ante que nenhun juyzo sea dado, aquelos que queredes sacadelos delante los juyzes, et fazedelos yr ante uos a Rocha forte; et que en esto le quebrantades su uso et so custumbre; lo que nunca fué».

Fueros municipales de Santiago y de su tierra, Antonio López Ferreiro, p 238.

«The said councillors of the city council of Santiago argued that if anyone from the town had a dispute with another, they should go first to the magistrates of the city to settle their differences and now you, before any judgment is given, when you so wish, force them to ignore the judges and make them appear before you at Rocha Forte; and by so doing you go against custom and usage; this has never been seen».

We also know that the castle was inhabited in 1255, as stated in the chapter constitutions on the choir and the chapter:

«Statuimus etiam de personis et canonicis, maniapaniis, duplaris morantibus nobiscum apud Rocham Fortem, quod eant ad processiones diebus dominicis solemnitatibus. Et si yuerint ad Ciuitatem Compostellanam ante prandium veniam ad maiorem missam. Si post prandium veniam ad uesperas sive completorium in quadragessima».

Published in Historia de la Santa A. M. Iglesia de Santiago de Compostela, Antonio López Ferreiro, 1898, V, num XXX, p 81.

«We also establish that the persons, canons, the prebendary and labour men who live with us at Rocha Forte must attend the processions on Sundays as well as on solemn dates. And should they come to the city of Santiago before dinner, they should attend the Main Mass; and should they come to the city of Santiago after dinner should do so at vespers or compline during Lent».

Another reference is found in the will of Xoán Arias, which is dated 1266, and where he mentions the Castellum de Rocha Forte as archbishopric property.

Archbishop Xoán Arias dies in the castle in 1266. The division of the chapter when it came to electing his successor favoured that the city was incorporated to the domain of the Kingdom of Castile. In 1280, King Alfonso X takes possession of the castle as well as of other property and offices that used to belong to the Church of Santiago. It would be his own son, Infant don Sancho, who would rise against him and recover the power and lands that were taken away from the Church of Santiago.

«Yo Infante Don Sancho ffio mayor et heredero del muy noble don Alfonso [...] por facer bien e merced a la Eglesia de Santiago que el rey mio padre tenia tomada, entregola del señorio de la terra et de los celeros de Santiago, tam bien en Galliça como en Terra de Leon et de Campos, commo de los otros lugares et de la pertigaria de Santiago et de los castiellos de Rochaforte, de Jalles, d'Oeste, de Lobeyra [].... segunt que lo essa Eglesia auia en essa cibdad al tiempo della muerte del Arcibispo don Johan Aras, et dellas otras uillas del arcibispado de Santiago quelles el Rey auia tomadas a la Eglesia sobredicha por sanna que ouo del Arcibispo don Gonçalo Gomez [...]».

Fueros municipales de Santiago y de su tierra, 1895. Editado por Antonio López Ferreiro, páx. 373.

«I, Prince Sancho, oldest son and heir of the most noble king Alphonse [...], in order to benefit the Church of Santiago, hold by my father the King, I will give to that Church the seigneury of the land of Santiago and its barns, both those in Galicia and in the land of León and Campos, and I also give those other places belonging to the domain of Santiago and to the castles of Rochaforte, Xallas, de Oeste, Lobeira [...] as well as of what belonged to the Church in that city at the time of the death of Archbishop Xan Arias and of the other towns within the Archbishopric of Santiago by reason of the viciousness of Archbishop Gonçalo Gomez».

The transition between the 13th and 14th centuries was a time of continuous dispute, that would end with the arrival of Archbishop Berenguel de Landoira. The documents of the time indicate that these were violent times, with continuous complaints for assaults on the roads of the lands within the domain of Santiago.

The first mention of the Castle of Rocha Forte dates back to 1253, but it is quite likely that its construction is earlier.

The documents

Related contents

13th century capital

Basin of holy water

Gothic capital

Tableware and luxury pottery

Wedges and chisels

Xoán Arias

The refuge