A Guide to Valencia's History

The slow transformation from modest settlement to major city began with the arrival of the Romans in the year 138 BC. At this time the city, known as Valentia, was preparing to compete for commercial importance with the Roman stronghold of Saguntum, which lay further north.

Over the next few centuries, Valencia went through some notable ups and downs, the highlights being the construction of the Forum and the Circus. By the year 300 AD the city fell into decay as a result of the decline of the Roman Empire. The next chapter in Valencia's history saw the emergence of the Visigoth monarchy. It was to be a brief reign and acted as a transition between the Roman and Moorish epochs. The Moors entered the Iberian Peninsula from the south and progressed steadily north. By 712 AD Valencia had become the base of a glorious Arabic realm.

The Arabs were responsible for the introduction of the silk trade and the planting of rice and oranges to Valencia in particular. The agricultural expertise of the Arabs greatly enhanced Valencia's profile as a commercial city. The arrival of the 10th century coincided with that of Al-Andalus, which made Valencia the capital of a Taifa or Arab kingdom. Then came the ousting of the Arabs by the Christian armies led by el Cid.

The year 1238 saw James the 1st, king of Catalonia and Aragon, conquering the city and pronouncing it the capital of the new Kingdom of Valencia. He introduced many new political techniques such as the Furs (Fueros in Castilian Spanish). This was a forum, which promoted self-governing and allowed the development of the Water Tribunal. By the 15th century Valencia was entering its Golden Age of prosperity. The entire region of the Kingdom of Valencia, with its silk trade and agricultural excellence, flourished and became one of the richest and most cultured on the Mediterranean. Along with this came the advancement in Arts and Culture. During the 16th century, swift changes were brought about as a result of fall of the Germanians and the end of the Moorish dynasty.

1707 signalled the rise of the Bourbons after their victory in the War of Succession. Philip the 5th accordingly abolished the Furs tradition and Valencia lost much of its identity when Castilian Spanish was ruled to be the official language. The 19th century bore witness to the War of Independence. Napoleon's endeavours are thwarted by the heroics of, among others, el Palleter. By the latter part of the century Valencia was enjoying an artistic, economic and cultural renaissance.

The 20th century was a turbulent one for Spain and Valencia was no exception. The low point was surely the Civil War. The years 1936 to 1939 marked one of the saddest chapters in Spanish history. Valencia played its part in the Civil War. It was, for a brief period, the seat of the Republican movement. The Nationalists, led by General Franco, eventually won the war and thus began Franco's dictatorship. A huge flood in Valencia in 1957 caused enormous damage The 1960s and 1970s brought some relief to the region with the arrival of well-administrated mass tourism. The city began to expand. In 1975 Franco died and a year later Spain had its first democratic elections since the beginning of the Civil War. Valencia then became an Autonomous Region.

The contemporary Valencia of the 21st century is the site of ambitious plans and social and economic harmony.