Search results
Sep 19, 2023 · The history of Madrid: from the Moors to modernity. The Spanish capital is a city of water and war, marked by conflict but glorying in culture. Jules Stewart guides us through the story of Madrid. The earliest recorded history of the place now called Madrid dates from the ninth century.
- An Enduring Enigma
- A Central Hub
- Bread Basket
- Structural Issues
- Disconnection
- The Icing on The Cake
Marooned in the center of the Iberian peninsula atop the Meseta Central, landlocked Madrid suffers boiling summers and, in the days before climate change, extremely harsh winters. Regardless, Felipe II decided to settle the court permanently here in 1561. A puzzling move that he never properly explained. Despite leaving behind reams of paperwork, t...
The most plausible explanation might be its central location. Madrid sits right in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, making it an ideal place to govern from. But if this was the case, why not choose nearby Toledo? In medieval times, the former Visigoth capital was a much larger settlement. One possible reason was that Felipe might have been tryin...
Building on Roman technology, the irrigation systems installed during the time of Al-Andaluz fed sophisticated water mills that produced large amounts of grain. While Toledo had the windmills of Castilla la Mancha – famously immortalized in Don Quijote – Madrid drew its food supply from surrounding mills fed by the Tajo and Jarrama rivers. Optimize...
But water and bread alone do not make a city and when Felipe arrived in Madrid with his entire court in tow, he faced a major problem: a lack of infrastructure. The town didn’t have enough space to accommodate the huge retinue of clerics, officials, nobility, and other hangers-on. To solve this problem, Felipe issued a decree known as the Regalía d...
Another huge drawback of Felipe’s decision was that it didn’t make much sense in terms of maintaining communication with his vast empire. As a micro-manager, Felipe wanted to be consulted about all major decisions, but his constant involvement could slow things down considerably. The roads in Spain were pretty poor at the time, and some think that ...
It wasn’t until the 18th century, under the reign of Carlos III, that Madrid began to modernize. A benevolent dictator, the king worked with a group of capable advisors to radically improve the city’s sewage system, street lighting, and rubbish collection. He also commissioned some of the city’s most iconic sights, including the Puerta del Alcala, ...
Feb 7, 2024 · Following a similar path—helped by a bit of luck due to Philip II’s tastes—is how Madrid transformed from a small backwater city into the second largest city and metropolitan area in the European Union—only after Paris—and a global capital.
Philip II moved the Spanish court to Madrid in 1561, and in 1607 Philip III made it the official capital. It was occupied by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars but returned to Spanish control in 1812. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), Madrid was held by those loyal to the Republic.
People also ask
When did Madrid become Spain's capital?
Was Comillas once the capital of Spain for a day?
Is Madrid a big city?
Will Madrid have more residents than the city?
May 16, 2018 · by Wendell Cox 05/16/2018. Madrid is the capital of Spain, as well as its largest built-up urban area, with an estimated 6.4 million population in 2018. Madrid’s urban area plus economically connected rural and small town areas make up the metropolitan area, which has nearly 7,000,000 residents.
Nov 16, 2015 · Spain has changed beyond recognition since General Franco died 40 years ago. The country telescoped its political, economic and social modernisation into a much shorter period than any other European country.
Oct 11, 2021 · A small upmarket town on the Cantabrian coastline was the Spanish capital for one day in 1881, changing its future forever. Madrid hasn't always been Spain’s capital - there were in fact many times throughout history when it wasn't. But once it only transferred away from Madrid for one day.
