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City Guide - Madrid - History | ||
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History c. 300-200BC Romans arrive in the Iberian Peninsula; their culture is adopted over two centuries AD409 Germanic tribes invade Roman Hispania, establishing a Visigothic kingdom from 419 to 711 AD711 Muslims defeat Roderick, the last Goth king 9th C Madrid, known as 'Magerit', is founded during the reign of Emir Mohammed I of Córdoba; the arts and sciences flourish, mosques and schools are built 1085-86 Alfonso VI of Castile conquers Toledo and Madrid, bringing the city under Christian rule (the Reconquista) 1469 Isabel, princess of Castila, marries Fernando, heir to Aragón, uniting Spain's two kingdoms 1478 The Spanish Inquisition: Jews and other non-Christians are executed in their thousands 1492 Conquest of Granada: Muslim king surrenders, ending the Reconquista. Colombus reaches the Americas and Spain develops its empire in the New World 1561 Philip II declares Madrid the capital of Spain. Siglo de Oro (Golden Century) begins 1562 Lope de Vega is born in Madrid 1619 Completion of Plaza Mayor 1665-1700 Reign of Charles II 1702-14 War of the Spanish Succession; Philip V becomes Spain's first Bourbon king 1734 Alcázar of Madrid destroyed by fire 1775-82 Creation of Paseo del Prado 1808-13 French occupation of Spain under Napoleon 1814-33 Fernando VII is granted the Spanish throne and re-establishes the Inquisition. The American colonies gain independence 1820 Military coup leads to three years of liberal rule 1823 Fernando VII is granted power once again, thanks to the French army 1868 Isabel II is ousted during the revolution 1871 Amadeo of Savoy takes the Spanish throne 1873 Amadeo abdicates and a Republic is formed before being overthrown in a military coup; finally Alfonso XII becomes king 1898 The Spanish-American war marks the disintegration of the Spanish Empire 1919 Creation of first metro line in Madrid 1923-30 Dictatorship established under General Primo de Rivera 1929 Construction starts on Barajas airport 14 Apr 1931 Second Republic is declared 1936-39 Civil War between the pro-democracy Republican government and the right-wing Nationalists 1 Apr 1939 Victorious Franco declares peace and imposes his dictatorship, which in later years would lead to Spain's exclusion from NATO and the UN c. 1960 Madrid's population exceeds two million 20 Nov 1975 Death of Franco 15 Jun 1977 Spain's first democratic general election takes place against a backdrop of miraculous economic recovery: Spain has the fastest-growing economy in Europe 1978 Drafting of democratic constitution 1982 Socialist government is voted in 1 Jan 1986 Spain becomes a member of the European Community 1992 Madrid is the European City of Culture 1996 Conservative Partido Popular is the winning party in the general election |