History of Madrid

History of Madrid

Middle Ages

Although Madrid has been occupied since historic times, the city in the Roman era belonged to the diocese of Complutum. In the 9th century AD Muhammad I ordered a small palace in the site where the Palacio Royale stands today. Beside it, was the citadel Al-Mudaina, lying adjacent to Manzanares, called al-Majrit by Muslims which means source of water. The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonzo I of Castile. He made the mosque a church of the Virgin of Almudena. Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled in the 15th century. The city was rebuilt by subsequent emperors. The entry of Ferdinand and Isabella heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon

Renaissance

The Kingdom of Castile with the capital at Toledo and the Crown of Aragon with the capital at Zaragoza were incorporated in modern Spain by the Catholic monarchs. Charles I, also known as the Holy Roman Emperor favored Madrid, but it was his son Philip II who moved the court to Madrid in 1561. Sevilla which controlled commerce was controlled by Madrid. During the Siglo de Oro or Golden Century (16th/17th century), the population of Madrid was economically dependent on the business of the court itself.

End of Renaissance and Early Modern Period

Felipe V, Spain's first Bourbon king, who was French, decided to adorn the European capital with palaces. However, it took the 18th century for Madrid to become a modern city. Carlos III was the most benevolent and popular rulers in the history of Madrid. Napoleon's invasion in 1808 was to have a lasting impact on French rule in Spain. After the War of Independence (1814), the constitution of the country was framed.

The 20th century

Political tension had been building up, and it led to the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939). The streets became battlegrounds and Madrid became a stronghold of the Republicans. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, especially in the 1960s, the city became an extensive slum settlement.

The 1980s saw Madrid prosper and consolidate its position as a leading economic, cultural, industrial, educational and technological center. In March 2004, Madrid was hit by a terrorist attack on multiple trains. On December 30, 2006, there was an explosion in the Madrid International Airport.

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