A European Informational Website
learn more
The City of León was founded by the Roman Seventh Legion (for unknown reasons always written as Legio Septima Gemina ("twin seventh legion"). It was the headquarters of that legion in the late empire and was a center for trade in gold which was mined at Las Médulas nearby. In 540, the city was conquered by the Arian Visigothic king Liuvigild, who did not harass the already well-established Catholic Christian population. In 717 León fell again, this time to the Moors. However, León was one of the first cities retaken during the reconquest and became part of the Kingdom of Asturias in 742. It was a small town, but the surviving Roman walls bear the medieval walling upon them.