Monzón
Encyclopedia
Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon
, Spain. It has a population of 17,050. It is located in the northeast (specifically the Cinca Medio
district of the province of Huesca
) and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa.
and for its role as a parliamentary centre in the Crown of Aragon
, between the 13th and 17th centuries. The different realms of the Crown of Aragon each had their own laws and parliaments, but it was often convenient to hold joint sessions of a "general parliament" as Monzón was an important staging post between Zaragoza
and Barcelona
, it was the usual location for such meetings.
Also noteworthy is the cathedral of Santa María del Romeral (Saint Mary of the Rosemary Field), with Romanic basements and the castle, originally from the 9th century (Torre del Homenaje) which hosted kings and nobles. It was here in 1109 that Urraca of Castile
married her second husband Alfonso I "The Battler" despite the objections of the Church. Child-king James I
"The Conqueror" spent part of his youth there, after his father Peter II
"The Catholic" died in the Battle of Muret
(1213); James I was kept under guardianship by the Knights Templar
in Monzon, a strategic spot between Segre and Cinca valleys.
Cardinal Richelieu and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
signed a treaty
here, ending the conflict over Valtelline in 1626.
, the only Spanish woman to win the most important and ancient tournament in tennis, Wimbledon, and Eliseo Martín
, bronze medal winner in the 3000m steeplechase in the Paris World Championships (2003) - the only non African athlete to get a medal in those Champìonships since 1993.
But Monzon has also been home to Olympic athletes, including Javier Moracho (110 m hurdles) - Spanish record holder for almost 20 years - the decathlete Álvaro Burrell, and the renowned pole vaulter Javier Gazol.
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain. It has a population of 17,050. It is located in the northeast (specifically the Cinca Medio
Cinca Medio
The Cinca Medio is a is a comarca in eastern Aragon, Spain. It is named after river Cinca.This comarca is bordered on the northwest by the Somontano de Barbastro comarca, to the east by La Litera and the south by the Bajo Cinca and Monegros....
district of the province of Huesca
Huesca (province)
Huesca , officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca.Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées...
) and adjoins the rivers Cinca and Sosa.
Historical overview
Monzón is notable because of its relationship with the Knights TemplarKnights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
and for its role as a parliamentary centre in the Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
, between the 13th and 17th centuries. The different realms of the Crown of Aragon each had their own laws and parliaments, but it was often convenient to hold joint sessions of a "general parliament" as Monzón was an important staging post between Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, it was the usual location for such meetings.
Urraca of Castile
Urraca was Queen regnant of León, Castile, and Galicia, and claimed the imperial title as suo jure Empress of All the Spains from 1109 until her death in childbirth, as well as Empress of All Galicia.- Childhood :...
married her second husband Alfonso I "The Battler" despite the objections of the Church. Child-king James I
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
"The Conqueror" spent part of his youth there, after his father Peter II
Peter II of Aragon
Peter II the Catholic was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1196 to 1213.He was the son of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile...
"The Catholic" died in the Battle of Muret
Battle of Muret
At the Battle of Muret on 12 September 1213 the Crusading army of Simon IV de Montfort defeated the Aragonese and Catalan forces of Peter II of Aragon, at Muret near Toulouse.-Background:...
(1213); James I was kept under guardianship by the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
in Monzon, a strategic spot between Segre and Cinca valleys.
Cardinal Richelieu and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares
Don Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel Ribera y Velasco de Tovar, Count-Duke of Olivares and Duke of San Lúcar la Mayor , was a Spanish royal favourite of Philip IV and minister. As prime minister from 1621 to 1643, he over-exerted Spain in foreign affairs and unsuccessfully attempted domestic reform...
signed a treaty
Treaty of Monçon
The Treaty of Monçon or Treaty of Monzón was signed on 5 March 1626 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister of Louis XIII and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, the chief minister of Philip IV of Spain, at Monçon in Aragon...
here, ending the conflict over Valtelline in 1626.
Famous Sportsmen
Monzón has been home to great sportsmen and women well known to the Aragonese and the world. Among them are Conchita MartínezConchita Martínez
Inmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998...
, the only Spanish woman to win the most important and ancient tournament in tennis, Wimbledon, and Eliseo Martín
Eliseo Martín
Eliseo Martín Omenat is an Aragonese Spanish long-distance runner who specializes in 3000 metres steeplechase.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*1500 metres - 3:40.96 min *3000 metres - 7:50.71 min...
, bronze medal winner in the 3000m steeplechase in the Paris World Championships (2003) - the only non African athlete to get a medal in those Champìonships since 1993.
But Monzon has also been home to Olympic athletes, including Javier Moracho (110 m hurdles) - Spanish record holder for almost 20 years - the decathlete Álvaro Burrell, and the renowned pole vaulter Javier Gazol.
Places of interest
- El Castillo Templario (The Castle of the Knights Templar)
- La Catedral de Santa María del Romeral (The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Rosemary Field, 12th and 13th centuries).
- El Convento de San Francisco (Saint Francis Convent, now dedicated to musical education).
- La Ermita de la Virgen de la Alegría (The Happiness Virgin Shrine, from the 17th century).
- Major House (16th and 17th centuries).
- La Puerta de Luzán (Luzán Gate).
Notable people from Monzón
- Conchita MartínezConchita MartínezInmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998...
(born 1972) Former tennis player and WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
Champion in 1994 - Barón de Eroles (1860–1941): lawyer and philanthropist who brought to Monzón one of the first X-Ray machines in Spain.
- Reverendo Vicente Pilzano y Ezquerra: prior to the 18th century, he wrote important chronicles about the city.
- Ignacio de Luzán (1702–54): her poetry is still studied in universities all around the world.
- José Mor de Fuentes: naval engineer and writer, author of books including ‘’La Serafina’’, ‘’La fonda de París’’, ‘’El calavera’’, ‘’A la muerte de Lord Byron’’, ‘’Los nuevos desengaños’’.
- Joaquín Costa y Martínez (1846–1911): One of the greatest men of the ‘’Regeneracionismo’’. He developed theories about education, water management and agricultural politics that were followed throughout the 20th century. "Oligarquía y Caciquismo" is one of his best books.
- Mariano de Pano y Ruata (1847–1948): He was president of the ‘’Ateneo’’ and ‘‘Academia de Bellas Artes de San Luis’’. He was the official Chronicler of the monasterio de Sijena and of the Real Academia de la Historia. His best books are: ‘’Las coplas del Peregrino’’, ‘’Puey de Monzón’’, ‘’Viaje a la Meca en el siglo XVI’’ and ‘’La condesa de Bureta doña Consolidación de Azlor’’.
- Joaquín de Pano y Ruata (1849–1919): engineer, ornythologist, filologue, translator of several languages, including Chinese and Japanese. He designed bridges in Monzón and one of them served as the model for bridges in ZaragozaZaragozaZaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
.