Galician and
Portuguese are the two branches of one common dead language which was spoken in
Lusitania and Galicia until it broke into two in the 15th century. The texts in
this father-tongue are known since the 12th century, and they do not differ in
Portugal and in Galicia. But further as Galicia was ruled by Spanish kings, the
languages became separate. In official spheres in Galicia Spanish (Castilian)
was spreading very fast, and Galician could be used only in private life. It
could become extinct, but the revival started in the 19th century is making it
flourish again.
Nowadays more than 4 million people speak Galician as the first language, and
it is one of the official languages of Galicia as an autonomous region.
![Spain - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/sp-flag.gif){kind=small}
![Portugal - Click for Information]](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/po-flag.gif){kind=small}