Santiago is a condensation of Saint Iago, or Saint James (Latin, I think). Camino means way, or the way. Hence, El Camino de Santiago mean The Way of Saint James.
Saint James was of course one of the 12 apostles. After Jesus’ death, James came to Hispaniola to preach sometime between the years 34 and 41. When he returned to Jerusalem, he was martyred in the year 42. He was decapitated by the authorities.
James’ remains were gathered by his followers, put into a marble sarcophagus, and sent by sea thru the Mediterranian, and up the west coast if the Iberian peninsula to Galicia, then dragged inland by two of James’ descipiles to a site where James had preached.
800 yrs passed. The Moors had taken most of the Iberian peninsula. In 844 the Christians were in a battle south of Logrono to resist the Moors’ demand for an annual tribute of 100 maidens. Then a miracle happened. Stars shot from James’ sarcopogus like firworks. That left no doubt who was interred. James rose on a horse and lead the Christian troops to victory. He gained the new name Santiago Matamoros (Saint James the Moor Slayer). The image of James riding a horse into battle with sword drawn ha been symominous with Spain every since. The King ordered that a pilgrimage be made to the site of his sarcophagus and that a Cathedral be built on that site, now Santiago de Compostela (Saint James of the Shooting Stars). James is Spain’s patron saint.
Though the Middle Ages the Knights Templar kept the route open so that Christians could make safe passage on the pilgrimage.
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