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_ A Brief History of Granada
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A Brief History of Granada

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The Reconquest

During the reconquest by the Christians, Granada was the last kingdom to be overcome. The Catholic Kings, Isabel and Ferdinand, laid seige to the city from what is now the village of Santa Fe, about 10 minutes´drive from Granada. The treaty, which led to the peaceful capitulation of the city, was declared on January 2nd, 1492. During this period, Christopher Columbus came to seek the support of the monarchs for a voyage of discovery, which led to the colonisation of a large part of the Americas.

At first, freedom of religion and custom was allowed, but in 1499, Cardinal Cisneros decreed that everyone should be baptized. This gave rise to a series of mutinies which were suppressed in 1500, with the most rebellious taking refuge in the mountainous region of the Alpujarra. During the reigns of Juana la Loca (the mad) (), and Carlos V, the freedom of the Arabs was reduced more and more, until Felipe II prohibited the use of their language, their customs, even their clothes. This led to a massive rebellion on Christmas night, 1568, which began in the Albaicín and was carried on in the Alpujarra, until it was finally repressed by Juan of Austria, in 1571. The rebels who survived were expelled from the area, which was repopulated by Spanish from various regions.

There followed a period of tranquility which allowed the arts to flourish and, with the university, which was established by Carlos V in 1526 near the site of the ancient Arab university known as the Madraza , enabled the city to become one of the most important cultural centres of Spain. The summer Palace of Carlos V, construction of which began in 1527, is famous for its outer square construction built around an inner courtyard which is circular.

The silk industry- Granada was on the silk route- brought to the city merchants from Genoa, one of whose palaces, La Casa de Los Pisas, situated in the lower part of the Albaicín, is now a museum, devoted to the order of the Hospitallers of St. John of God, (1495-1550) who began his work of succouring the sick and the poor in the city. There are now hospitals run by his order throughout the world, even in Australia.

Work on the cathedral began early in the sixteenth century in the Gothic style, mostly under the direction of Siloe, continuing during the Renaissance. During the baroque period, the principal architects were Alonso Cano, the 400th anniversary of whose birth we celebrated in 2001, and the architect Francisco Hurtado, whose work may also be seen in the Sagrarios of the monastry of La Cartuja.

The Catholic Kings, among others, are buried in the Capillo Real, which is attached to the cathedral itself.


The Modern Era

During the period of the Napoleonic invasion, Granada was ruled on behalf of Napoleon by the general Sabastiani, from January 1810 to September 1812. This period is noted for the severity and violence of Sabastiani. One of his acts was to demolish an ancient stone building in the centre. He used this stone to replace what had been a wooden bridge over the river Genil. This wooden bridge was painted green. The stone bridge is still in use and is still known as Puente Verde, (the green bridge).

With the restoration of Fernando VII, returned a period of absolutism. In Granada, Mariana Pineda was executed in 1831, for embroidering liberal sentiments- law, liberty, and equality- on a flag.

At the end of the nineteenth century much of the lower section of the Albaicín was demolished to allow for the construction of the Gran Via, the the main road of the town which gave access to the railway station, and also to bring much needed employment.

At the beginning of the most recent Civil War in Spain, Federico García Lorca, a Granada poet and dramatist of international fame, was arrested in Granada and executed. During the war Granada suffered a period of repression which resulted in the largest number of executions as reprisals per percentage of population in Spain. Also during the war, the Albaicín was bombed.


Famous Sons

There are many Granadines famous for their art and culture :
  • The Arabs: the philosopher, Ibn Bayya; the philologist, Ibn Hayyan; the musicologist, Ibn al-Haddad; poets and writers such as Abu Ya´Far and Ahmad b. Habra.
  • The Christians: the mystic, Fray Luis of Granada; poets and writers ranging from Antonio Mira de Amezcua,, through Pedro Antonio de Alarcón to Federico Garcia Lorca.; artists such as Alonso Cano; sculptors such as José and Diego de Mora, and José Risueño; the philosopher, Angel Ganívet; historical figures such as the countess Eugenia de Montijo, who was Empress of the French, and many others, far too numerous to mention.