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After its conquest by James I of Aragon in 1232-1244, Valencia was a brave new kingdom, called to be Christian by royal decision and geopolitical consistency. Since then, kingdom of Valencia would be oriented to Western Christianity and Mediterranean trade routes. However, the lack of either relics or images posed a tricky problem to the new settlers and their governors. Relics had to be donated later on, as was the case of the piece of the Crown of Thorns offered by King Louis IX of France to Valencia cathedral or, at the end of the period, of the Holy Grail offered as warrant of a loan by King Alfonso V of Aragon to the same church treasure. Images, instead, could be produced on Valencian soil or easily imported from northern Christian territories or across the Mediterranean. Both pathways were arguably open and explored having into account legal measures taken by King James I to control image making in the new kingdom and especially what is known about the origin of a significant number of paintings and sculptures well documented and some of them still preserved as cult images (Our Lady of El Puig, Our Lady of Grace in the ex-convent of Saint Agustin and the image of Christ crucified from el Saviour parish church). Legends about the origin of these icons seldom tell us the historical truth, since they generally claim an Eastern provenance. An interesting group of these images were venerated in seaside shrines, spite of the marshy and unprotected coastal environment. Sites like the church of Saint Mary of the Sea near Valencia harbour or sanctuaries such as Saint Mary of El Puig and the shrine devoted to the Virgin in Cullera castle functioned both as a reference point for those travelling along the Mediterranean coast and places of worship. They probably served as a landmark of the new Christian kingdom not only for local settlers but also to merchants, sailors and all kind of travellers coming from the sea. On the other hand, stories about their origins were part of a narrative of the Christian conquest, including miraculous events and punishment of Muslim or Jewish foes. Virgin’s icons were linked to James I as conqueror and founder of the new Christian kingdom of Valencia and monarchy held a particular attachment to these shrines fostering their role as local pilgrimage centres.
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