n.
Medieval kingdom, northwestern Spain.
Leon proper included the cities of León , Salamanca , and Zamora
the adjacent areas of Vallodolid and Palencia being disputed with Castile , originally its eastern frontier. It began as a Christian kingdom in the early 10th century when García I established his court on a former Roman legion campsite. Its rulers lost ground to the Moors during the 10th century but reconquered much territory in the 11th century. From 1037 to 1157 it was united with the kingdom of Castile, but it then regained its independence and was ruled by its own kings. It was permanently reunited with Castile in 1230. The modern autonomous community of Castile-León covers roughly the same area.