La Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de Covadonga, de asturianos y montañeses, de Granada (1702-1810)

Abstract

The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Covadonga, whose members were originally from Asturias and La Montaña (Santander), constitutes an example of a common brotherhood with specific social connotations. This fraternity was founded in Granada at the beginning of the 18th century, a time when there was a considerable Asturian/Cantabrian population in Granada. Throughout the 18th century, this community became the cohesive nucleus of a small number of families; however, its limited activity evidences the Brotherhood’s growing lack of economic resources. After this period of depletion, the Brotherhood disappeared altogether during the French occupation of Spain. Its existence is nonetheless a testimony to the community spirit of persons born in the same region, and exemplifies a social unit which would develop widely in the 18th century: the closed brotherhood.