[A legendary neurological disease favored the refoundation of the diocese of Palencia].
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of the XI century, the diocese of Palencia, Spain, was refounded and politically empowered following the indications of Sancho III, King of Pamplona. Beginning in the XIII century orally and then after the XV century in several written documents, there is a legend that explains this historical event by the miraculous cure of the King for an apparent neurological disease.


METHODS
One day, when he was about 42 years old, King Sancho III was hunting near the river Carrion. Following the trail of a wild boar, he entered a ruined crypt in which the mortal remains of the martyr Saint Antolín laid. Just when he was going to kill the animal, the King abruptly suffered weakness in his right arm, which made him drop his lance. On his knees and aware of his disease, and praying sorrowfully, the King recovered the mobility of his arm and left the crypt cured.


RESULTS
We analyzed the written documents and artistic representations that recall this legendary episode. We reviewed the political reasons, apart from mere religious events, that might have persuaded Sancho III to empower the land of Palencia.


CONCLUSIONS
We have had the opportunity of reviewing a beautiful legend of our medieval Spain, which could correspond to one of the first ever-existing descriptions of a cardioembolic transient ischemic attack.
Unidad de Neurología, Hospital Rio Carrión, Palencia. aguerrerop@medynet.com
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D002410:Catholicism / Q000266:history; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D013030:Spain