Valencia History History of Valencia, Spain, Europe

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Valencia History Valencia was first founded at around 137BC by Roman soldiers that had fought under Junius Brutus in the capture of Viriathus. It was then known as Valentia and quickly grew to become one of the most prominent cities of the Roman Hispania Tarraconensis region. When the Romans were pushed out of the peninsular in the 5th century the city eventually fell under the control of the Visigoths who ruled Valencia and its surrounding territories for hundreds of years. They were eventually ousted by the Moors, who after their arrival in 711AD and subsequent advance across the peninsular forced a surrender of the city. The Moors ruled in Valencia first under the Caliphate of Cordoba and then as a splinter state when the Caliphate had collapsed. It was not until the 15th June 1094 that the city was recaptured for the first time by Christian forces led by the legendary El Cid. El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar) is especially important to Valencia because he ended up governing it as his own kingdom (albeit officially in the name of King Alfonso of Castile), and because it was the site of his death (on July 10th 1099). As possibly Spain's most famous military figure he lent a huge amount of stature and legend to the city, even though it fell once again to the Moors shortly after his death. It was not to be recaptured again for another 125 years. It was the native Christian Kingdom of Aragon that first siezed Valencia for themselves in 1238. It grew under their governance, as did it when it was eventually ceded to the Spanish crown. In fact by the 15th and 16th century it was recorded to be one of the major Mediterranean cities. Later years brought wars, namely the Spanish War of Succession in which Valencia sided with Austria and was subsequently occupied by the British for 16 months. The Peninsular War against the French forces of Napoleon brought outright invasion. Finally during the Spanish Civil War the city was made capital of the republic and received blockade and siege by the forces of Franco. The city suffered for this after the defeat of the republic and ensuing dictatorship, both economically and because its language, Valencian, was banned throughout Franco's reign. Modern times have brought better fortunes. The city is now the political and administrative capital of the autonomous community of Valencia, one of Spain's self governing regions. The tourist industry has injected a lot of capital into the city with numerous modern constructs transforming the face of Valencia. Additionally Valencian is now compulsorily taught in schools and actively promoted by the Valencian government.   More Valencia links; Valencia Restaurants Valencia Bars Valencia Nightclubs Valencia Culture Valencia Shopping Valencia Modern Valencia Parks Valencia Museums Historic Attractions Valencia City Zones Valencia Zoo Planetarium Science Museum Valencia Cathedral Roman Theatre of Sagunto Valencia Golf Exploring Valencia Valencia Accommodation Valencia Gandia Oliva Castellon Benicassim Peniscola Oropesa del Mar Vinaros Costa de Valencia Valencia History, History of Valencia, Spain, Europe

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