Castile and León Day commemorates the 1521 Battle of Villalar and the memory of the Comuneros, who fought for liberties against royal centralization. Today it is both a regional holiday and cultural festival, centered in Villalar de los Comuneros.

When is Castile and León Day?

Castile and León Day is celebrated every year on April 23.

The following is the list of Castile and León Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Castile and León Day?

In the early 1500s, Castile faced political tension after Charles I of Spain (later Emperor Charles V) inherited the throne. Many in Castile opposed his heavy taxation and the influence of foreign advisors at court.

This discontent led to the Revolt of the Comuneros (1520–1521), a popular uprising of townspeople and local nobles demanding greater autonomy and protection of traditional rights.

The revolt culminated at the Battle of Villalar (Valladolid province) on April 23, 1521. Royalist troops defeated the rebel army, and the leaders of the revolt (Juan de Padilla, Juan Bravo, and Francisco Maldonado) were captured. On April 24, 1521, the three leaders were executed, symbolizing the defeat of the Comuneros.

Although the revolt failed, the Comuneros became a symbol of resistance, civic freedoms, and local rights in Castile. During the 19th century, amid Spain's liberal movements, their struggle was reinterpreted as an early fight for constitutionalism and democracy. By the 20th century, intellectuals, regionalists, and democrats in Castile embraced the Comuneros as icons of Castilian identity and self-government.

After Spain's 1978 Constitution created autonomous communities, Castile and León adopted its Statute of Autonomy in 1983.

That same year, April 23 was officially declared the Day of Castile and León, linking the region's identity to the memory of the Comuneros and the Battle of Villalar.