Tudela, Navarre
Encyclopedia
Tudela is a municipality
in Spain
, the second city of the autonomous community of Navarre
. Its population is around 35,000. Tudela is sited in the Ebro
valley. Fast trains running on two-track electrified railways serve the city and two freeways (AP 68 and AP 15) join close to it. Tudela is the capital of the "Ribera Navarra", the agricultural region of lower Navarre.
The poet Al-Tutili
, the 12th century traveller Benjamin of Tudela
and the 13th century writer William of Tudela
were from the city.
Of note are the city's festivals in honor of Santa Ana (St. Anne, mother of Mary) which begin on 24 July at noon and continue for approximately one week. Street music, bullfights and the running of the bulls are events which exemplify this festival.
Archeological excavations have shown that the area of Tudela has been populated since the lower paleolithic
. The town of Tudela was founded by the Romans
on Celt-Iberian settlements. Since then the town has been inhabited continuously. The Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis (Epigrams Book IV, 55) "recalls in grateful verse" the town of Tutela next to his own native Bilbilis. The city was later taken under the Muslim
emirate of Al-Hakam I
in 802 by Amrus ibn Yusuf
al-Muwalad
.
At the beginning of the 9th century, the strategic importance of Tudela as a site on the river Ebro
was enhanced by historical and political circumstances. It turned into the base of the Banu Qasi
family of Muladi
s, local magnates converted to Islam that managed to be independent of the emirs, establishing an on-off alliance and close dynastic bonds with the kings of Pamplona
during the whole century. With the power of the Banu Qasi fading at the onset of 10th century, the town fell under the influence of the rising Caliphate of Córdoba
and had to come up against a more aggressive policy on the part of the new dynasty ruling in Pamplona, the Ximenes
, who had set up close ties with their neighbour Christian realms.
The town was used by Muslims as a bridge-head to fight against the Christians of Pamplona
. Later Tudela became an important defensive point for the Kingdom of Navarre
in battles with Castile
and Aragon
.
When Christians under Alfonso the Battler
conquered Tudela in 1119, three different communities where living there: Muslim, Mozarab
and Jew
ish. In the aftermath of the conquest, community relations appear to have been strained and Muslims were forced to live in a suburb outside the town walls, whereas Jews continued to reside inside the walls (see Jews in Tudela). The co-existence of different cultures is reflected in Tudela's reputation for producing important medieval writers such as Al-Tutili
.
The Jews were banished in 1498 (the expulsion from Navarre being slightly later than in the rest of Spain). Muslims and Morisco
s were expelled in 1516 and 1610 respectively. There are still examples of Islamic-influenced architecture in the city - the style the Spanish call Mudéjar
; but the principal mosque
was turned over to the Church in 1121, and by the end of the 12th century construction of the cathedral
had begun.
At the end of the 17th century, the new public square was built, called Plaza Nueva or Plaza de los Fueros, which became the main city centre.
On November 23, 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte's Marshal Lannes
won the Battle of Tudela
in the Peninsular War
. The train station was built in 1861, which, together with the agricultural revolution, resulted in a new period of expansion for the city.
in Tudela, reputed for its excellent mantecadas, closed down in January 2011.
Other traditional desserts are manjar blanco
and cafareles.
, France, since 1986
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Spain
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...
, the second city of the autonomous community of 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...
. Its population is around 35,000. Tudela is sited in the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
valley. Fast trains running on two-track electrified railways serve the city and two freeways (AP 68 and AP 15) join close to it. Tudela is the capital of the "Ribera Navarra", the agricultural region of lower Navarre.
The poet Al-Tutili
Al-Tutili
Al-A'ma al-Tutili was a Muwallad poet born in Tudela in Al-Andalus. Al-A'ma' means 'the blind one' and 'Tutili' means 'from Tudela'. He was raised in Seville there he gained talent in poetry, he later lived in Murcia. He died young...
, the 12th century traveller Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela was a medieval Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 12th century. His vivid descriptions of western Asia preceded those of Marco Polo by a hundred years...
and the 13th century writer William of Tudela
William of Tudela
William of Tudela was the author of the first part of the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade against the Cathars.According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was...
were from the city.
Of note are the city's festivals in honor of Santa Ana (St. Anne, mother of Mary) which begin on 24 July at noon and continue for approximately one week. Street music, bullfights and the running of the bulls are events which exemplify this festival.
History
Lower Paleolithic
The Lower Paleolithic is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. It spans the time from around 2.5 million years ago when the first evidence of craft and use of stone tools by hominids appears in the current archaeological record, until around 300,000 years ago, spanning the...
. The town of Tudela was founded by the Romans
Ancient 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....
on Celt-Iberian settlements. Since then the town has been inhabited continuously. The Roman poet Marcus Valerius Martialis (Epigrams Book IV, 55) "recalls in grateful verse" the town of Tutela next to his own native Bilbilis. The city was later taken under the 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...
emirate of Al-Hakam I
Al-Hakam I
Al-Hakam Ibn Hisham Ibn Abd-ar-Rahman I was Umayyad Emir of Cordoba from 796 until 822 in the Al-Andalus .Al-Hakam was the second son of his father, his older brother having died at an early age. When he came to power, he was challenged by his uncles Sulayman and Abdallah, sons of Abd ar-Rahman I...
in 802 by Amrus ibn Yusuf
Amrus ibn Yusuf
Amrus ibn Yusuf al-Muwalad was a Muwallad general of the Emirate of Córdoba and governor of Zaragoza.Amrus, a native of Huesca, and his kinsman Sabrit were servants of Aysun ibn Sulayman al-Arabi. The kinsmen joined Aysun's brother when Matruh al-Arabi rebelled and entered Zaragoza...
al-Muwalad
Muladi
The Muladi were Muslims of ethnic Iberian descent or of mixed Arab, Berber and European origin, who lived in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. They were also called "Musalima" .-Etymology:...
.
At the beginning of the 9th century, the strategic importance of Tudela as a site on the river Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
was enhanced by historical and political circumstances. It turned into the base of the Banu Qasi
Banu Qasi
The Banu Qasi, Banu Kasi, Beni Casi or Banu Musa were a Basque Muladi dynasty that ruled the upper Ebro valley in the 9th century, before being displaced in the first quarter of the 10th century.-Dynastic beginnings:...
family of Muladi
Muladi
The Muladi were Muslims of ethnic Iberian descent or of mixed Arab, Berber and European origin, who lived in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. They were also called "Musalima" .-Etymology:...
s, local magnates converted to Islam that managed to be independent of the emirs, establishing an on-off alliance and close dynastic bonds with the kings of Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
during the whole century. With the power of the Banu Qasi fading at the onset of 10th century, the town fell under the influence of the rising Caliphate of Córdoba
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
and had to come up against a more aggressive policy on the part of the new dynasty ruling in Pamplona, the Ximenes
Jiménez dynasty
The Jiménez or Ximenes were an Iberian ruling family from the 10th century to the 13th century. They were the first Europeanisers of Spain and brought her back within the wider European political scene while also giving her the political character and division that persisted until the end of the...
, who had set up close ties with their neighbour Christian realms.
The town was used by Muslims as a bridge-head to fight against the Christians of Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
. Later Tudela became an important defensive point for 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....
in battles with 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...
and Aragon
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...
.
When Christians under Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso the Battler
Alfonso I , called the Battler or the Warrior , was the king of Aragon and Navarre from 1104 until his death in 1134. He was the second son of King Sancho Ramírez and successor of his brother Peter I...
conquered Tudela in 1119, three different communities where living there: Muslim, Mozarab
Mozarab
The Mozarabs were Iberian Christians who lived under Arab Islamic rule in Al-Andalus. Their descendants remained unconverted to Islam, but did however adopt elements of Arabic language and culture...
and Jew
History of the Jews in Spain
Spanish Jews once constituted one of the largest and most prosperous Jewish communities under Muslim and Christian rule in Spain, before the majority, together with resident Muslims, were forced to convert to Catholicism, be expelled or be killed when Spain became united under the Catholic Monarchs...
ish. In the aftermath of the conquest, community relations appear to have been strained and Muslims were forced to live in a suburb outside the town walls, whereas Jews continued to reside inside the walls (see Jews in Tudela). The co-existence of different cultures is reflected in Tudela's reputation for producing important medieval writers such as Al-Tutili
Al-Tutili
Al-A'ma al-Tutili was a Muwallad poet born in Tudela in Al-Andalus. Al-A'ma' means 'the blind one' and 'Tutili' means 'from Tudela'. He was raised in Seville there he gained talent in poetry, he later lived in Murcia. He died young...
.
The Jews were banished in 1498 (the expulsion from Navarre being slightly later than in the rest of Spain). Muslims and Morisco
Morisco
Moriscos or Mouriscos , meaning "Moorish", were the converted Christian inhabitants of Spain and Portugal of Muslim heritage. Over time the term was used in a pejorative sense applied to those nominal Catholics who were suspected of secretly practicing Islam.-Demographics:By the beginning of the...
s were expelled in 1516 and 1610 respectively. There are still examples of Islamic-influenced architecture in the city - the style the Spanish call Mudéjar
Mudéjar
Mudéjar is the name given to individual Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus who remained in Iberia after the Christian Reconquista but were not converted to Christianity...
; but the principal mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was turned over to the Church in 1121, and by the end of the 12th century construction of the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
had begun.
At the end of the 17th century, the new public square was built, called Plaza Nueva or Plaza de los Fueros, which became the main city centre.
On November 23, 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte's Marshal Lannes
Jean Lannes
Jean Lannes, 1st Duc de Montebello, was a Marshal of France. He was one of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals. Napoleon once commented on Lannes: "I found him a pygmy and left him a giant"...
won the Battle of Tudela
Battle of Tudela
The Battle of Tudela was a battle of the Peninsular War fought on November 23, 1808 near Tudela, Spain. The battle resulted in the victory of the French and Poles under Marshal Lannes against the Spanish under General Castaños....
in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. The train station was built in 1861, which, together with the agricultural revolution, resulted in a new period of expansion for the city.
Main sights
- The Cathedral (12th-13th centuries). It includes examples of Romanesque architectureRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
, such as the Puerta del Juicio, or Door of the (Last) Judgement. There are some GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
influences and also BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
additions to the building. - Church of Magdalene (12th century), in Romanesque style
- Church of San Nicolás (12th century)
- Church of San Jorge (17th century), in Baroque style
- Palacio Decanal
- Stone bridge over the Ebro River
- Torre Monreal
Gastronomy
The Casa Salinas bakeryBakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
in Tudela, reputed for its excellent mantecadas, closed down in January 2011.
Other traditional desserts are manjar blanco
Manjar Blanco
Manjar blanco is a term used to refer to a variety of delicacies in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain the term refers to blancmange, a European delicacy found in various parts of the continent as well as the United Kingdom. In the Americas it refers to a sweet, white spread or pastry filling...
and cafareles.
Education
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a distancia
- Universidad Pública de NavarraUniversidad Pública de NavarraThe Universidad Pública de Navarra was created in 1987 by the government of the Spanish autonomous region of Navarre .The main campus is located in Pamplona, at the outskirts of the city, near the CA Osasuna soccer stadium Estadio Reyno de Navarra, and plans are being studied to create a new...
- IES Benjamín de Tudela http://www.iesbenjamin.net in Spanish
- IES Valle del Ebro
- Colegio San Francisco Javier
- CP Virgen de la Cabeza
- CP Monte de San Julián
- CP Elvira España
- CP Griseras
- Colegio Anunciata
- Colegio Compañía de María
- Escuela Técnico Industrial ETI
People
- Abraham ibn EzraAbraham ibn EzraRabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
, scholar - probably born in Tudela - Yehuda HaleviYehuda HaleviJudah Halevi was a Spanish Jewish physician, poet and philosopher. He was born in Spain, either in Toledo or Tudela, in 1075 or 1086, and died shortly after arriving in Palestine in 1141...
, poet and philosopher - Benjamin of TudelaBenjamin of TudelaBenjamin of Tudela was a medieval Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 12th century. His vivid descriptions of western Asia preceded those of Marco Polo by a hundred years...
, traveller - Banu QasiBanu QasiThe Banu Qasi, Banu Kasi, Beni Casi or Banu Musa were a Basque Muladi dynasty that ruled the upper Ebro valley in the 9th century, before being displaced in the first quarter of the 10th century.-Dynastic beginnings:...
(not this city's origin) - Robert d'AguilóRobert d'AguilóRobert d'Aguiló , also known as Robert Bordet, was a Norman adventurer who moved from Normandy to Catalonia in the early 12th century...
(c.1100–c.1159), governor of Tudela - Robert of KettonRobert of KettonRobert of Ketton was an English medieval theologian, astronomer and Arabist.Ketton, where Robert was either born or perhaps first took holy orders, is a small village in Rutland, a few miles from Stamford.Robert is believed to have been educated at the Cathedral School of Paris...
(c.1110–c.1160), canon of Tudela and arabistArabistThis is an article about the western scholars known as Arabists, not the political movement Pan-Arabism.An Arabist is someone normally from outside the Arab World who specialises in the study of the Arabic language and Arab culture, and often Arabic literature.-Origins:Arabists began in medieval... - Miguel Servet, Christian reformer and physician, claimed to be from Tudela when posing as Michel de Villeneuve.
- William of TudelaWilliam of TudelaWilliam of Tudela was the author of the first part of the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade against the Cathars.According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was...
, writer - Abraham Yom-Tob of Tudela, commentator (JE)
- Hasdai ben Solomon, rabbi (JE)
- Ibn ShaprutIbn ShaprutShem-Tob ben Isaac Shaprut of Tudela was a Spanish Jewish philosopher, physician, and polemicist. He is often confused with the physician Shem-Ṭob ben Isaac of Tortosa, who lived earlier...
, philosopher (JE) - Joel ibn Shu'aibJoel ibn Shu'aibJoel ibn Shu'aib was a rabbi, preacher, and commentator who was born in Aragon and lived also at Tudela. He wrote the following works:...
, author of sermons and Bible commentaries (JE) - Samuel Amarillo, collector of royal taxes at Tudela (JE)
- Ezmel (Samuel) de Ablitas, financier from AblitasAblitasAblitas is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarra, northern Spain.-External links:* *...
near Tudela (JE) - Minir family: scholars of Tudela, members of which are met with in the East and in Italy (JE)
- Isaac ibn Minir
- Isaac ben Joseph Minir
- Joseph ben Isaac Minir
- Moses Minir
- Shem-Tob Minir
- José CastelJosé CastelJosé Castel was a Spanish composer.José Castel was a church musician in his native Tudela and Aragon before moving to Madrid around 1760. There, in addition to his church duties, he was active as a theatrical composer, for the Teatro del Príncipe, as well as a printer and publisher...
(1737–1807), composer of zarzuelas. - Fernando RemachaFernando RemachaFernado Remacha Villar was a composer, part of the Group of Eight which formed a sub-set of the Generation of '27.-Early years:...
(1898–1984), composer - César Muñoz Sola (1921–2000), artist
- Rafael MoneoRafael MoneoJosé Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
(b. 1937), architect - Ismael UrzaizIsmael UrzaizIsmael Urzaiz Aranda is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a centre forward.Best known for his physical strength and aerial ability, the unsuccessful youth graduate at Real Madrid went on to represent seven other teams during his extensive professional career, mainly Athletic Bilbao...
(b. 1971), Spanish footballer
Twin towns
Mauleon-Soule, France, since 1965 Tiberias, Israel, since 1984 Mont-de-MarsanMont-de-Marsan
Mont-de-Marsan is a commune and capital of the Landes department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Mont-de-Marsan airbase « Constantin Rozanoff » is a major installation of the French Air Force. The base includes CEAM , an air defense radar command reporting centre, and an air defence control...
, France, since 1986