Leon
León, a region in northwestern Spain that was once a kingdom. It covers the area occupied today by the provinces of León, Salamanca, and Zamora. During the late 8th and early 9th centuries, Spanish Christians captured León from the Moors, who had occupied the region since the early 8th century. León became an independent kingdom in the 10th century. In 1037 León was conquered by Ferdinand I of Castile. It remained united with Castile, except during 1065-72, until 1157, when it once again became independent. León was reunited with Castile in 1230 by Ferdinand III.