in whichever city the king chose to stay. In the earliest Leonese and Castilian Cortes, the inhabitants of the cities (known as "laboratores") formed a small group of the representatives and had no legislative powers, but they were a link between the king and the general population, something that was pioneered by the kingdoms of Castile and León. Eventually the representatives of the cities gained the right to vote in the Cortes, often allying with the monarchs against the great noble lords. Arms of the Kingdom of Castile During the reign of Alfonso VIII, the kingdom began to use as its emblem, both in blazons and banners, the canting arms of the Kingdom of Castile: gules, a three towered castle or, masoned sable and ajouré azure. See also Council of Castile Crown of Castile Heraldry of Castile History of Spain List of Castilian battles List of Castilian counts Notes References External links The Kingdom of Castile (1157–1212) : Towards a Geography of the Southern Frontier History of the County of Castile – The origins of Castile Medieval Spain Castile Castile Castile Castile 11th-century establishments in the Kingdom of León States and territories established in 1037 States and territories disestablished in 1230 1030s establishments in Europe Castile Former countries