Segorbe
Encyclopedia
Segorbe is a municipality in the mountainous coastal province of Castelló, autonomous community of Valencia, Spain. The former Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli now houses the city's mayor. Segorbe's bull-running week (semana de Toros) in September attracts 200,000 visitors each year.
to Valencian Community
, between the Serra d'Espadà
on the north and Serra Calderona
on the south.
The urban area is located at 358 m height, placed over two hills emerging from the bank of the river.
The area of Segorbe was inhabited as early as the mid-Palaeolithic Age, as testified by archaeological remains. Segorbe was once identified as the ancient Segobriga, described by Pliny the Elder
as the capital of Celtiberia. However, archaeological excavations have uncovered an extensive Roman city in La Mancha which has been identified as Segobriga.. During the Visigothic rule in Iberia, it became a diocese seat.
In the 8th century Segorbe was occupied by Moors
from North Africa and its cathedral became a mosque. Segorbe was the residence of Zayd Abu Zayd
, the last Almohad
governor of Valencia. After his conversion to Christianism, Segorbe became a base for the conquest of Valencia in 1238. In 1435 it became part of the royal estates of the Kingdom of Aragon
.
, consecrated in 1534 and extended in 1795 is connected by a bridge with the old episcopal palace. Its tower and its cloister are built on a trapezoidal ground-plan.
Segorbe's ancient castle was perhaps located over an Iberian acropolis. It originated as a Moorish alcazar
, and lived its period of highest splendor in the later 15th century; Martin of Aragon held his court here. After the administrative center was moved to the new ducal palace in the city, it declined, and, from the mid-18th century, its materials were used for the construction of the hospital and Casa de Misericordia.
Other sights include:
kingdom, whose members bear the family name of Aragó
, was founded by the king Ferdinand I of Aragon
who made his eldest son, Enric I, the first lord of Segorbe, duke of Villena, count of Empúries and count of Alburquerque. His son Enric II was created duke of Segorbe and was also count of Empúries, like his son Alfons I. The son of this last one, Francesc I, inherited from his father the duchy of Segorbe and county of Empúries
, and from his mother (Joana of Cardona) the duchy of Cardona
. He had no sons and the succession passed through his sister Joana, who was married to Diego Fernández de Córdoba, marquis of Comares
. His son Lluis Folc de Cardona-Aragó was count of Prades
, but he predeceased his mother in 1596 and the heir was the son (grandson of Joana) Enric III d'Aragó Folc de Cardona Córdoba. His son Lluis I succeeded him and deceased in 1670 and his son and successor Joaquin I also deceased in 1670. The heir was Pere Antoni, brother of Lluis I. After his death in 1690, the succession was claimed by Caterina, sister of Joaquin, married with Juan Francisco de la Cerda, duke of Medinaceli. The Medinaceli
dukes received the duchy of Segorbe, the duchy of Cardona and the county of Empúries.
Lord:
Dukes:
To dukes of Medinaceli
1690 (later passed to the de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba).
The present holder of the dukedom is don Ignacio de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba, Duke of Segorbe, who is married to Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans-Braganza
.
Geography
The municipal district area is crossed by the Palancia River from north west to south east. It is located on the natural way from AragónAragon
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...
to Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, between the Serra d'Espadà
Serra d'Espadà
Serra d'Espadà is a long mountain range in the Alt Palància, Alt Millars and Plana Baixa comarcas, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is La Ràpita ....
on the north and Serra Calderona
Serra Calderona
Serra Calderona , often referred to as La Calderona is a long mountain range in the Camp de Túria, Horta Nord and Alt Palància comarcas of the Valencian Community, between the provinces of Castelló and Valencia Spain....
on the south.
The urban area is located at 358 m height, placed over two hills emerging from the bank of the river.
History
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
as the capital of Celtiberia. However, archaeological excavations have uncovered an extensive Roman city in La Mancha which has been identified as Segobriga.. During the Visigothic rule in Iberia, it became a diocese seat.
In the 8th century Segorbe was occupied by Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
from North Africa and its cathedral became a mosque. Segorbe was the residence of Zayd Abu Zayd
Zayd Abu Zayd
Zayd Abu Zayd was the last Almohad governor of Valencia, Spain.He succeeded as governor of Valencia to his uncle Abū `Abd Allāh Muhammad. At the death of the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur, he gained complete autonomy thanks to dynastic struggle that ensued...
, the last Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
governor of Valencia. After his conversion to Christianism, Segorbe became a base for the conquest of Valencia in 1238. In 1435 it became part of the royal estates of the Kingdom of Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
.
Main sights
The cathedralSegorbe Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady of Segorbe is a Roman Catholic church in Segorbe, province of Castellón, Spain. It is the see of the Diocese of Segorbe-Castellon...
, consecrated in 1534 and extended in 1795 is connected by a bridge with the old episcopal palace. Its tower and its cloister are built on a trapezoidal ground-plan.
Segorbe's ancient castle was perhaps located over an Iberian acropolis. It originated as a Moorish alcazar
Alcázar
An 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...
, and lived its period of highest splendor in the later 15th century; Martin of Aragon held his court here. After the administrative center was moved to the new ducal palace in the city, it declined, and, from the mid-18th century, its materials were used for the construction of the hospital and Casa de Misericordia.
Other sights include:
- Church of St. Martin, built in Baroque style in 1612
- Baroque church of San Joaquín y Santa Ana (1695)
- Medieval walls, dating to before the 13th century, including in their last stretch a 14th century aqueduct. Its features include the Arch of Veronica, the Botxi Tower (with a height of 17.30 m) and the Cárcel Tower (14th century)
- Town Hall, begun in the 16th century.
- Cathedral Museum
- Archaeology and Ethnology Museum
Duchy of Segorbe
The ducal line, in ValenciaKingdom of Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
kingdom, whose members bear the family name of Aragó
Aragó
Aragó is a family name that descended from the kings of the Aragonese Crown. The kings never used any family name. All lines are now exhausted.-Originated by four sons of James I of Aragon:*Majorca, created by the king James II of Majorca....
, was founded by the king Ferdinand I of Aragon
Ferdinand I of Aragon
Ferdinand I called of Antequera and also the Just or the Honest) was king of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica and king of Sicily, duke of Athens and Neopatria, and count of Barcelona, Roussillon and Cerdanya...
who made his eldest son, Enric I, the first lord of Segorbe, duke of Villena, count of Empúries and count of Alburquerque. His son Enric II was created duke of Segorbe and was also count of Empúries, like his son Alfons I. The son of this last one, Francesc I, inherited from his father the duchy of Segorbe and county of Empúries
Empúries
Empúries , formerly known by its Spanish name Ampurias , was a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain. It was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον...
, and from his mother (Joana of Cardona) the duchy of Cardona
Cardona
Cardona is a town ìn Catalonia, Spain, in the province of Barcelona; about 90 km northwest of the city of Barcelona, on a hill almost surrounded by the river Cardoner, a branch of the Llobregat.Near the town is an extensive deposit of rock salt...
. He had no sons and the succession passed through his sister Joana, who was married to Diego Fernández de Córdoba, marquis of Comares
Comares
Comares is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. The municipality is situated approximately 28 kilometres from the provincial capital and 24 from Vélez Málaga. It has a population of approximately 1420 residents. The...
. His son Lluis Folc de Cardona-Aragó was count of Prades
Prades
-Places:* Prades, Ardèche, in the Ardèche département, France* Prades, Ariège, in the Ariège département, France* Prades, Haute-Loire, in the Haute-Loire département, France...
, but he predeceased his mother in 1596 and the heir was the son (grandson of Joana) Enric III d'Aragó Folc de Cardona Córdoba. His son Lluis I succeeded him and deceased in 1670 and his son and successor Joaquin I also deceased in 1670. The heir was Pere Antoni, brother of Lluis I. After his death in 1690, the succession was claimed by Caterina, sister of Joaquin, married with Juan Francisco de la Cerda, duke of Medinaceli. The Medinaceli
Medinaceli
Medinaceli is a municipality and town in the province of Soria . Its name derives from the Arabic toponym madīnat sālim . The town is named after one Salim bin Waral, head of a Masmuda Berber family which settled there in the 8th century....
dukes received the duchy of Segorbe, the duchy of Cardona and the county of Empúries.
Lord:
- Enric I 1436-1445
Dukes:
- Enric II 1455-1522
- Alfons I 1522-1563
- Francesc I 1563-1575
- Joana 1575-1608
- Enric III 1608-1640
- Lluis I 1640-1670
- Joaquin 1670
- Pere Antoni 1670-1690
- Caterina 1690
To dukes of Medinaceli
Medinaceli
Medinaceli is a municipality and town in the province of Soria . Its name derives from the Arabic toponym madīnat sālim . The town is named after one Salim bin Waral, head of a Masmuda Berber family which settled there in the 8th century....
1690 (later passed to the de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba).
The present holder of the dukedom is don Ignacio de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba, Duke of Segorbe, who is married to Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans-Braganza
Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans-Braganza
Princess Maria da Glória Henriqueta Dolores of Orléans-Braganza, Duchess of Segorbe is a distant member of the Brazilian Imperial Family and the wife of the Duke of Segorbe...
.