The History Of Madrid

Many cultures and rulers have left their mark on Madrid history, reaching back long before Madrid became Spain's national capital.

The city owes its early beginnings to a Moorish chief, Mohamed I, who built a fortress on the Manzanares River in the ninth century. He called it "al-Majrit," an Arabic term meaning "source of water." "Al-Majrit" eventually became "Madrid" and its residents were called "Madrilenos.
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Alfonso VI of Castile drove the Moors from Madrid in 1085. A small clique of families governed the city for the next three centuries. Madrid's high point during that time came in 1329, when a Cortes Generales (General Court) was created to advise Fernando IV.

Four decades later, fire destroyed the city. Enrique III (1390-1406) rebuilt Madrid and put it under Castilian rule.

Enrique III's granddaughter was Isabel of Castile. Isabel and her husband, Fernando of Aragon, ruled their respective kingdoms from Madrid. An integral part of Madrid history, they are perhaps best known for sponsoring Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492. Columbus' successful voyage sparked Spain's Golden Age of Exploration.

Madrid and Spain became part of the Holy Roman Empire under Isabel and Fernando's grandson, Carlos I (also known as Holy Roman Emperor Carlos V). In 1561, Carlos' son Felipe II made the city the de facto Spanish capital, introducing a new chapter in Madrid history.

Extreme wealth contrasted with extreme poverty characterized Madrid for many years afterward. Poor immigrants surged into the city in the hope of working for the royal court. Not until the 19th century, when the government seized and redistributed many of the Catholic Church's properties, did a middle or merchant class start to take shape.

One of the most popular monarchs in Spanish and Madrid history, Carlos III is credited with building many of Madrid's landmarks during his reign 200 years later. His legacy includes the Teatro Real (Royal Theater) and the Botanical Gardens. He also finished the Palacio Real, built on the site of the old al-Majrit Moorish fortress.

Many places in Madrid, such as the Plaza Dos de Mayo in the Malasana neighborhood, owe their names to the residents' unsuccessful May 2, 1808, revolt against Napoleon. (Malasana was named in honor of a young girl killed during the rebellion.) French rule lasted until 1814, when the Bonaparte regime was driven out and Fernando VII reclaimed the Spanish throne. Under his daughter, Isabel II, Madrid saw its first paved streets, sewage systems and gas streetlights built.

The 20th century brought rapid and sometimes wrenching changes to Madrid. The Gran Via (Great Road) was built, connecting the Calle de Alcala with the Plaza de Espana. Electric train lines and a metro transit system were installed. The Nationalist forces of Generalissimo Francisco Franco laid siege to Madrid during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). Thousands of Madrilenos were killed during those three years in Madrid history.

The triumphant Franco made Madrid his official capital following the war and industrialized the city. Many rural Spaniards moved to the city looking for work following the war. Madrid was unable to absorb so many people in such a short time. As a result, slums grew around the city, and the quality of life deteriorated.

King Juan Carlos I assumed power after Franco's death in 1975. Juan Carlos helped Spain evolve from a dictatorship into a constitutional monarchy by 1978. Since then, Madrid has prospered economically, culturally and technologically. It is now regarded as one of the premier capital cities of Europe.

Madrid caught the world's eye in a sad and horrific way March 11, 2004. Islamist terrorists exploded several bombs on commuter trains during the morning rush hour, killing 192 and injuring more than 2,000 civilians. Three days later, the Spanish people voted out the incumbent People's Party in favor of the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party, changing the course of Madrid history yet again.