How did the purported discovery of St. James’s tomb lead to the growth of Santiago de Compostela?

The growth of Santiago de Compostela as a major center of pilgrimage was fundamentally driven by the purported discovery of the relics of St. James in the early 9th century.12

According to tradition, the Apostle St. James traveled to Spain to preach before returning to Jerusalem, where he was martyred in 44 ce. His body was said to have been brought by boat to Galicia and buried in a stone tomb that remained lost for centuries. During the reign of King Alfonso II, a hermit reportedly discovered the site after being guided by a bright star, leading to the location being named Campus Stellae ("Field of the Star").23

The discovery provided a vital rallying point for Christian Spain during the period of Moorish rule. A church—and later a cathedral—was built to house the relics, establishing the city as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages, alongside Rome and Jerusalem. This network of routes became known as the Camino de Santiago, which continues to attract thousands of pilgrims annually.321