The history of Murcia City

The tradition of Murcia has been a interesting tradition of farming, business and INCURSIONS. Looking back to the very early days (500+ B.C.) Murcia's original inhabitants - Iberian tribes - had already established trading relationships with Phoenicians and Greeks. Later Hannibal Barca and his masses from Carthage conquered the region founding Carthago Nova, which nowadays is the popular sea port of Cartagena.

Then, inescapably came the Roman Empire and in the 5th Century the Visigoths (a German race) who conquered all of Spain under Euric only to be taken over by the Moors in 711.

The historical city of Murcia (then called Mursiya) was founded in 825 A.D by The Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman II. Founded on the site of an historic Roman Colony there are still plenty of Moorish touches there not least in the impressive City walls.

Then came the civil war & the Caliphate was comquered by native Spaniards to create an independent kingdom, which included (at its height) part of the modern counties of Alicante & Almeria. Calmer times ensued until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-subjugated Murcia and the local areas. Savage oppression forced the largely Moslem community to change to the Christian Church. All 20 mosques were then forced to convert into Christaian churches.

The town centre was blessed with lots of very elaborate palaces, ornate churches and the centrepiece was the gorgeous rococo cathedral. All this affluence was largely down to the burgeoning silk and agriculture industries.

At the height of Murcia's affluence and development Napoleon Bonaparte spoiled things by wrecking and looting the Province in 1810. Unfortunately there was then an epidemic of plague and Cholera.. After this Murcia fell into gradual decline until the 20th Century when Murcia could only claim to be a minor city. There was serious insurrection during the Civil War in 1936 and lots of ornate monuments and churches were lost forever. Economic deteriation also occurred as the previously valuable silk market started to lose it's effectiveness against the assault of man made fibres.

More recently Murcia has been revived by fruit and vegetable agriculture and related activities.

It would appear that the next chapter in the saga of Murcia has started, the latest assault of Murcia is on and will again be from the north but this time the invaders will be golf course dwelling residents.

The economic welfare of Murcia County is assured.

Mr Marsh owns several Spanish property web sites.Russell focuses on Polaris World properties and is available to give free help. Russell Marsh rents out Murcia property. Russell is an authorised agent of Polaris World Golf Resorts

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