Introduction

Abstract

This dossier delves into the complex relationships between Castile and Spain in modern times, analyzing their influence on the formation of the Spanish nation, the articulation of the Monarchy and the State, and the tensions between the center and the periphery. The five articles address topics such as 19th-century historical narratives, the symbolic rivalry between Castile and Catalonia, the early liberalism's anti-despotic discourse, and the mythification of the Comuneros. Furthermore, it examines Castile's role in Portuguese historical culture, highlighting its duality as both a positive and negative reference. Collectively, the dossier provides new insights into 19th-century national constructions and the ideological disputes that shaped this period.