Madrid Escorts
Escorts in Madrid
Madrid History
- The first recorded settlement in Madrid was of Muslim soldiers under the control of Muhammad I, but the date of the establishment of the city is usually given as 852 CE when a fortress (alcázar) was erected on the site that now houses the Palacio Real. The fortress was built by Muhammad I to protect against invasion from Northern Christian armies and to guard the strategically important city of Toledo. However, in 1083 Toledo was finally captured and the alcázar of Madrid fell with little opposition. The new Christian occupiers lived in peace with the original Arab inhabitants, and little disruption ensued.
In 1561 Felipe II, the ruler of Spain, made Madrid his new capital due to its central location, however at this time, the city was still a town of little size with only 9000 citizens, and in a dire condition. One of Felipe’s first actions was to turn the old marketplace outside the city walls in to a new public square, what is today the Plaza Mayor. By the end of the square’s construction in 1619, the population had exploded to almost 85 000 people with all the courtesans, noblemen, clerics and even criminals that had moved to the new capital. This resulted in immense overcrowding in the city leading the new king, Felipe IV to order the construction of a new city wall. Despite this, this period was called the Golden Age in Spain, and Madrid was used as subject material by many of the famous playwrights of the era such as, de Vega and de Molina.
One of Madrid’s greatest eras was under the rulership of Carlos III from 1759 – 1788. During his reign he built spectacular gateways for the city such as the Puerta de Alcalá and great boulevards such as the Paseo del Prado. Further civic improvements ensued with the paving and lighting of streets, the building of city sewers and the establishment of nightwatchmen. As a result of all his municipal improvements Carlos III became known as El Rey-Alcade (the Mayor-King). In 1808 the French army invaded Madrid and two months later the citizens of the city led a revolt against their occupiers. Madrid became the scene of violent street battles, and the mutinying of the soldiers in the Monteléon barracks. However this insurrection was short-lived and within a few hours it had been put down and the leaders executed.
In 1919 Alfonso XIII opened Madrid’s first metro line, which marked the rebirth of the city after years of despondency. After this the magnificent Gran Vía with its bars and restaurants was built and the Calle de Alcalá emerged as the centre of the new financial district. This genesis was put to an abrupt halt with the siege of General Franco’s troops on the city during the Spanish Civil War. His Nationalist army battled hard but the Republican forces in the city resisted valiantly. This went on for two and a half years until the final invasion of Franco’s troops in to the city in March 1939. Franco consequently ruled Spain with an ‘iron fist’ for 36 years until his death in 1975, when power was handed over to Prince Juan Carlos.
The country’s first democratic elections were held in 1977. In 1981 Franco loyalists under Colonel Antonio Tejero, not happy with the return of the country to a monarchy launched an attack on the parliament and attempted to take over the country. However the army remained loyal to the king and the uprising was removed. In the 20th and 21st centuries Madrid grew in to a modern metropolis, thriving and vibrant, with many of the world’s top fashion, financial and sporting teams making their home in the city. Real Madrid is one of the top football teams in the world and Madrid’s reputation as a leader on the world scene was secured. The city did suffer tragic terrorist bombings on its transport system in 2004 but has heroically recovered from this to again take its place as a city alive with culture, design and architectural magnificence.
