Leon

Leon, an ancient kingdom of Spain, equivalent generally to the modern provinces of Leon, Palencia, Valladolid, Zamora, and Salamanca. It was the earliest Christian kingdom, next after Asturias, to be formed in Spain, after the Moorish wave of conquest began to recede. It dates from the 10th century, and was united with Castile first by Ferdinand the Great in 1037, and finally in 1230. The modern province has an area of 6165 sq. m. and (1887) a pop. of 380,229. The country, which is intersected by the Douro and the Minho, is mountainous, being invaded on the north by the Cantabrian Mountains. The soil is generally fertile. The inhabitants are for the most part uneducated and lazy, but honourable, hospitable, and good-natured; they have many peculiar customs, and all the pride of pure Spanish descent. In the high districts south of Salamanca there are remnants, as is believed, of the old Gothic tribes, and at Astorga the Maragatos are variously supposed to be descendants of the Celtiberi, the Visigoths, or the Moors.—Leon is also the name of a part of BRITANY.