Castle Alcázar of Segorbe

Castle-Alcázar that was residence of the kings of Aragon in the middle ages. Nineteenth century engraving. Sections shown in the engraving 1. Tower of the Angel 2. Cisterns 3. Royal Chambers 4. Cabinet of white marble 5. Galleries and 6. Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of La Leche.

The Castle Alcázar of Segorbe was an alcázar (palace, castle) located on the slopes of the hill of Sopeña in the town of Segorbe, in the Valencian Community, Spain. Very little remains of the original Alcázar, but this large complex was once the residence of lords, dukes and kings for over a millennia.[1]

In 1784, urban expansion of Segorbe past the original medieval fortifications necessitated further construction, and new walls were built. After the works were completed, the new walls had eight gates known as Teruel, Argén, Sopeña, Cárrica, Castellnovo, Valencia, la Maza, and Altura.

History

Arabs, from the Baraní family of the Sinhala confederacy, built the first fortress. In 1229 it was ceded to James I of Aragon by the muslim King of Valencia, Zayd Abu Zayd after he converted to Christianity and declared himself an ally and vassal of King James, becoming governor general of Valencia on his behalf. The castle became a refuge for Zayd Abu Zayd himself when he was dispossessed by Dynamil Zayyan until James I captured the castle in 1245 and placed him in command of an army to assist in the retaking of Valencia.[2]

The peak of the Christian castle was in the 14th and 15th centuries, culminating in the holding of General Courts by King Martin of Aragon, who had made the city his residence.

Among the most notable lords of Segorbe are Doña Maria de Luna, Queen of Aragon, wife to King Martin (through whom the Segorban Alcázar became a royal residence), and the first to use the title of Duke of Segorbe, Enrique de Aragón y Pimentel, responsible for several improvements to the castle. These included adding new quarters, a chapel "Our Lady of La Leche" with rich ornaments (which are currently in the cathedral museum), and columns of marble, resulting in the transformation of the building; Martín de Viciana noted that it was "... very beautiful with many pieces and beautiful and well-styled rooms..." .[2]

The castle was the residence of Philip IV in 1620, but declined and lost much of its prominence when the Dukes of Segorbe decided to move their headquarters to the Ducal Palace of Medinaceli which currently houses the local council. The castle fell into such a state of disrepair over the following centuries that just the raw materials were left. Much of this rubble was used to construct a hospital and Casa de Misericordia (House of Mercy) as well as the expansion of a nearby Cathedral. The Carlist Wars had a lasting impact on the territory of Segorbe, resulting in a lack of maintenance and repair to the castle, leading to its demise and disuse.

Bishop Lorenzo Gómez de Haedo decided on the construction of a new hospital and House of Mercy, and looked to the remains of the Alcázar for materials to carry out the work. Removal began in March 1784, and resulted in further destruction. After this demolition, only the walls on the southern slopes of the hill remained; the defences to the north were completely destroyed. However, the demolition was not entirely complete, as some areas remained in good condition. There are sections remaining that are used and refurbished for the yearly votive festivals celebrated by the Cathedral for Our Lady of La Leche.

Currently, there are some fortifications built to mark the Carlist Wars still existing

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Castillo-Alcázar de Segorbe" Military Historical Museum of Valencia Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 Historia de Segorbe

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