Castillian Knight, The Spanish

The Kingdom of Castile was a large and powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the middle ages. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region.
It began in the 9th century as the County of Castile an eastern frontier lordship of the Kingdom of Leon. During the 10th century its Counts increased their autonomy, but it was not until 1065 that it was separated from Leon and became a Kingdom in its own right.
Between 1072 and 1157, it was again united with Leon, and after 1230, this union became permanent. Throughout this period, the Castilian kings made extensive conquests in southern Iberia at the expense of the Islamic principalities.