Salamanca History
Salamanca, was populated by celtiberian tribes by the year 400 A.C. Later, its strategic situation, bathed by Tormes river, made it object of desire of Hannibal and the Carthaginians. Soon later It was romanized and annexed to Lusitania province, a time of great development because it was an important communication nod in the Silver way, a road who crooses the peninsula north-south. Its cristianization took place before year 600 by the visigoths and the Moors conquered the city one hundred twenty years later. In 12th century the Christian kingdoms reconquest the zone and the repoblation of the territory by Castilian, Portuguese, Galician, Jewish, Mozarabics and French begins.
Salamanca was recovered and lost several times by the Christians in front of the Arabs, until the arrival of Alfonso VI. In 1096 he ordered the colonization of this part of the kingdom to his son-in-law, count Raimundo of Burgundy. On 1218, Alfonso IX founded the General Study, precursor of the important University of Salamanca. Its development grew a large extent to the favors of Fernando Santo and Alfonso X "The Wise".
On the first years of 13th century, University of Salamanca was recognized as one of the more prestigious European universities. The visit of Cristopher Columbus to Salamanca and its protection by the Dominican priests, of the San Esteban convent, give him endorsments in the presence of Queen Isabel "The Catholic", that in the end produced the Discovery of America. Those years at the end of 15th century became the center time of the catholic theology of the Counterreform represented by Trento Council againts protestants.
In 15th century, Salamanca, like the rest of Spain, underwent the fights between those in favor of Don Alvaro de Luna and the infants of Aragon. One of most famous and tragic episodes of these fights was the revenge of Doņa Maria Rodriguez de Monroy, later called Doņa Maria "The Brave". She commanded to kill the Manzano brothers in Viseu (Portugal), who months ago had as well killed Maria children because an incident in the ball game. Later, Maria "The Brave", left her heads beheaded on the grave of her children. The city was divided in two sides, those of the Santo Tome and San Benito parishes, who carried out bloody fights in spite of the intermediation of San Juan of Sahagun. The Catholic Kings visited several times Salamanca, one of them in 1497 cause the death of their son, prince Don Juan. Fernando even resided in the city in 1505 and 1506. Other kings that visited Salamanca were Carlos I in 1534, Felipe II in 1543, marrying with his first wife, Maria of Portugal, and Felipe III and his first woman Daisy of Austria in 1600.
Salamanca took part in the Secession War in favor of Felipe V, who later decided to build the Plaza Mayor in 1710 in gratification. But the time of greater suffering for Salamanca was without a doubt in 19th century, during the War of Independence. From 1808 to 1811, Salamanca was the center of the fights between the armies that disputed the hegemony of Europe. Finally, in 1811, in the battle of Arapiles, at the doors of the city, Wellington defeated the Napoleonic army, moving away them out of the country. But the consequences already had taken place and were irreversible, as numerous art works were expoliated and destructed.
Salamanca presence in 20th century is centered mainly in the cultural and literary life around the University of Salamanca. Without a doubt, the presence of important men as Miguel de Unamuno or Gonzalo Torrente Ballester has contributed to give a new impulse to this institution, and the city of Salamanca itself. In the dawn of 21th century, the city was named European Capital of the Culture, which provided in 2002 a new impulse to this dynamic and cosmopolitan city, like the young spirit of its students who arrive to make Spanish courses in Salamanca.
