Nájera
Encyclopedia
Nájera is a small town located in the "Rioja Alta" region of La Rioja, Spain
on the river Najerilla
. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.
, who built the town of Tritium on land which now falls within the boundaries of Nájera and the neighbouring municipality of Tricio
. Subsequently the area was under Muslim
rule and the name Nájera (Naxara meaning "town between the rocks") is of Arabic origin.
The town was conquered by Ordoño II of Leon
for Navarre
in 923. Nájera was the capital city of the kingdom of Navarre
before being conquered by Castile
in 1054 after the battle of Atapuerca
. However, it continued to be multi-cultural. For example, in 1142 there was a visit from a French abbot Peter the Venerable
. He used his visit to Spain to commission translations of important Islamic works, including the first translation of the Qur'an
into a European language, and it has been suggested he met with his four translators at Nájera. From the tenth century Nájera had a prosperous Jewish community, which was granted relatively favorable legal status after the Christian conquest.
Edward, the Black Prince
fought in the Battle of Nájera in 1367, intervening in a Castilian Civil War
on behalf of Pedro of Castile
.
The monks had to abandon the annexed monastic complex in the 19th century, as a result of the anti-clerical reforms of Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
.
Other sights include:
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on the river Najerilla
Najerilla (river)
The river Najerilla is a tributary of the river Ebro, Spain's most voluminous river. The Najerilla rises in the province of Burgos and then flows through La Rioja....
. Nájera is a stopping point on the Way of St James.
History
The area attracted the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, who built the town of Tritium on land which now falls within the boundaries of Nájera and the neighbouring municipality of Tricio
Tricio
Tricio is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain.-References:...
. Subsequently the area was under Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
rule and the name Nájera (Naxara meaning "town between the rocks") is of Arabic origin.
The town was conquered by Ordoño II of Leon
Ordoño II of León
Ordoño II was king of Galicia from 910, and king of Galicia and León from 914 until his death. He was the second son of King Alfonso III the Great and his wife, Jimena of Pamplona....
for Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
in 923. Nájera was the capital city of the kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
before being conquered by Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
in 1054 after the battle of Atapuerca
Battle of Atapuerca
The Battle of Atapuerca was fought in 1 September 1054 at the site of Piedrahita in the valley of Atapuerca between brothers King García Sánchez III, El de Nájera, of Navarre and King Ferdinand I, the Great, of Castile and León....
. However, it continued to be multi-cultural. For example, in 1142 there was a visit from a French abbot Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable
Peter the Venerable , also known as Peter of Montboissier, abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny, born to Blessed Raingarde in Auvergne, France. He has been honored as a saint but has never been formally canonized.-Life:Peter was "Dedicated to God" at birth and given to the monastery at...
. He used his visit to Spain to commission translations of important Islamic works, including the first translation of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
into a European language, and it has been suggested he met with his four translators at Nájera. From the tenth century Nájera had a prosperous Jewish community, which was granted relatively favorable legal status after the Christian conquest.
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
fought in the Battle of Nájera in 1367, intervening in a Castilian Civil War
Castilian Civil War
The Castilian Civil War lasted three years from 1366 to 1369. It became part of the larger conflict then raging between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France: the Hundred Years' War...
on behalf of Pedro of Castile
Pedro of Castile
Peter , sometimes called "the Cruel" or "the Lawful" , was the king of Castile and León from 1350 to 1369. He was the son of Alfonso XI of Castile and Maria of Portugal, daughter of Afonso IV of Portugal...
.
Main sights
The church of Santa María la Real was founded by García Sánchez III of Pamplona in 1052. It is the burial-place of Spanish kings.The monks had to abandon the annexed monastic complex in the 19th century, as a result of the anti-clerical reforms of Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, born Juan Álvarez Méndez , was a Spanish economist and politician....
.
Other sights include:
- Convent of St. Helena (18th century)
- Bridge on the Najerilla river, built in the 12th century and remade in 1880
- La Mota Castle, of Islamic origin, built in 923, currently on ruins.
- Town Museum
- Excavations of the AlcázarAlcázarAn alcázar , alcácer or alcàsser is a type of castle in Spain and Portugal. The term derives from the Arabic word القصر meaning "fort, castle or palace"; and the Arabic word is derived from the Latin word, 'castrum', meaning an army camp or fort...
, abandoned in the 16th century - Monastery of Valvanera, 16 km from the town, built in the 11th century, but restored in Gothic style in the 15th century as it became a residence of Isabella of SpainIsabella of SpainIsabella of Spain may refer to:* Isabella, Princess of Asturias * Isabella of Castile * Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain * María Isabella of Spain...
.
See also
- Municipal elections in NájeraMunicipal elections in NájeraElections to the municipal council of Nájera, La Rioja, Spain.-May 2003:-June 1999:-May 1995:-May 1991:-June 1987:Source:...
- Candidature of Najeran IndependentsCandidature of Najeran IndependentsCandidature of Najeran Independents was a political party in Najera, La Rioja, Spain, led by Jesus Lopez Saenz. CIN contested the 1983, 1987, 1991 and 1995 municipal elections.Results:...
- Independent Municipal DemocracyIndependent Municipal DemocracyIndependent Municipal Democracy was a political party in Najera, La Rioja, Spain. DMI contested the 1979 municipal elections, in which it won 350 votes . One DMI candidate was elected to the municipal council, Clemente Gasco Aldonza....
- Najeran Alternative ForumNajeran Alternative ForumNajeran Alternative Forum is a political party in Nájera, La Rioja, Spain, founded in 1998. The party contested the 1999 and 2003 municipal elections.Results:* 1999: 576 votes , 2 seats...