Sepúlveda

Sepúlveda stands above the gorges of the Duratón in northern Castile. Its medieval charter, or fuero, was confirmed by Alfonso VI in 1076 and later expanded and codified in 1300. Its provisions applied not only to the town but also to the surrounding Community of Town and Land, and influenced charters granted elsewhere. In 1468 the town's Jewish inhabitants were expelled. During the Castilian Revolt of the Comuneros in 1520–1521, Sepúlveda's council declined repeated requests to commit itself decisively to either side. In the Peninsular War, Spanish forces resisted a French advance near the town in 1808 before withdrawing toward Segovia. The town's walls, churches and inherited legal traditions reflect its long history as a centre for the surrounding countryside.