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Oct 26, 2023 · The name California, with its mellifluous charm, evokes images of palm trees, golden beaches, and the glinting Pacific. However, the origins of the state’s name are rooted not in historical fact but rather in a work of fiction, a testament to the power of literature and imagination.
Las Sergas de Esplandián origin theory. California & its namesake ruler Queen Calafia, originate in the 1510 epic Las Sergas de Esplandián, written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. (Depiction of Calafia from a 1937 mural at the California Capitol by Lucile Lloyd)
Sep 1, 2018 · Throughout history, there have been many stories about how California got its name. Some believe that the name is rooted from kar-i-farn , a Persian term that means from the elemental or celestial fire used to identify griffins described in Greek myth as "the blazing birds".
The name “California” comes from a 16th century Spanish novel that involves a warrior queen named Calafia. But the name also has much deeper roots that connect North African pirates and a medieval epic poem.
Conquistadors, Gold and Charlemagne: How California Got Its Name. By: Kristen Hall-Geisler. California conjurs up images of the Beach Boys, surfboards and Hollywood for many, but the origin of the state name comes from a 16th-century Spanish novel by Garcí Rodríguez de Montalvo.
- Kristen Hall-Geisler
Nov 13, 2022 · When Spanish colonizers arrived at the Baja California peninsula in 1533, they thought it was an island and reported that information back home, where some believed the explorers had found the...
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Jan 3, 2023 · The name origin of California is, thus, derived from a 16th-century novel. While the original meaning of the story, as described in the novel, is celebrating Christian men, the actual story rather celebrates native and black women. This, too, is reflected in the etymology of the name California.
