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Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located in the center of the country at 40°25'N, 3°45'W. As of 2003 census, population of the city of Madrid proper was 3,092,759. Population of the whole urban area was estimated in 2003 at 5,603,285 inhabitants.
Madrid is the capital not only of the country but also of the province and autonomous community of Madrid.
As of 2004, the mayor of Madrid is Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.An 1888 German map of Madrid
Although the site of Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, the first historical data we have from the city is from the middle of the IX Century, when Mohamed I ordered the construction of a small palace (in the same place that is occupied now by the Palacio Real). Around this palace there was built a small citadel (al-Mudaina). Near that palace was the River Manzanares, which the muslims called Mayrit meaning source of water. (from which Magerit, then Madrid). The citadel was conquered in 1085 by Alfonso VI in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena (almudin, the garrison's granary). In 1329 the Cortes first assembled in Madrid to advise Fernando IV. Jews and Moors continued to live in the city in their quarter, still called the "Moreria" until they were expelled and every mosque and synagogue utterly obliterated.
After troubles and a fire Enrique IIIHenry III ( October 4, 1379 — 1406), sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm ( Spanish: Enrique el Doliente was the son of John I and succeeded him as King of Castile and Leon in 1390. Henry was born in Burgos, the capital of Castile. (1379-1406) rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo. The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella into Madrid signalled the end of strife between Castile and Aragon.
The kingdoms of CastileA former kingdom of Spain, Castile comprises the two regions of Old Castile in north-western Spain, and New Castile in the centre of the country. Previously an eastern county of the kingdom of Leon, Castile in the 11th century became an independent realm, with its capital at ToledoAlternate meanings: see Toledo (disambiguation Toledo is a city located in central Spain, the capital of the province of Toledo and of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. History Toledo served as the capital city of Visigothic Spain, beginning, and AragonComunidad Autonoma de Aragon Capital Zaragoza Area total % of Spain Ranked 4th 47 719 km² 9,4% Population Total (2003) % of Spain Density Ranked 11th 1 217 514 2,9% 25,51/km² Demonym English Spanish Aragonese aragones Statute of Autonomy August 16, 1982 I, with its capital at BarcelonaCoat of arms of Barcelona Flag of Barcelona Barcelona within Barcelones Population ( 2003)1,582,738 Area100'4 Km2 Population density ( 2001)15,764/Km2 Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region in northeastern Spain (41º 23' N, 2º 11' E)., were welded into modern Spain in the person of Carlos I. Though King Carlos favored Madrid, it was his son, Felipe IIPhilip II of Spain ( May 21, 1527 September 13, 1598), King of Spain (r. 1556- 1598), Naples and Sicily (r. 1554- 1558), and Portugal, Philip II, the self-proclaimed leader of the Counter-Reformation, assumed the throne in 1556 with a great deal of potent (1527-1598) who moved the Court to Madrid in 1561. Although he made no official declaration, the seat of the Court was the de facto capital. SevilleThis article is about the city in Spain. For the place in the U. state of Ohio see Seville, Ohio and for the automobile see Cadillac Seville. Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, crossed by the riv continued to control the Spanish Indies, but Madrid controlled Seville. Aside from a brief period, 1601 - 1606, when Felipe III installed his court in Valladolid, Madrid's fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain. During the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century), which is situated between the XVI y el XVII centuries, Madrid had no resemblance with other European Capitals, in fact, the population of the city lived out of business that were court related.
Felipe V decided that an European Capital could not stay in such state and new palaces (including the Palacio Real are built under his kingdom. However, it would not be until Carlos III ( 1716- 1788) that Madrid, as a modern city, would be born. Carlos III would be one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid, and the saying "the best mayor, the king" would become popular during those times. When Carlos IV ( 1748- 1819) became King the people of Madrid revolves. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez which was impulsed by his own son Fernando VII against him, Carlos IV resigns, but Fernando VII kingdom would be short since in May of 1808 the troops of Napoleon enter the city.After the war of independence ( 1814) Fernando VII came back to the throne but after a liberal military revolution, Coronel Riego made the king swear respect to the Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and conservative alternate government that would end with the enthronement of Isabel II ( 1830- 1904), who would not be able to calm down the political tension that would lead to yet after another revolt, the First Spanish Republic, the comeback of the monarchs which eventually would lead to the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. During this war ( 1936- 1939) Madrid would be one of the most affected cities and its streets became battlezones.
During the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco Madrid became very industrialized and there were massive migrations into the city. Towards the end of the dictatorship ETA assassinated Franco's prime minister, Luis Carrero Blanco, in the Street of Claudio Coello. In spite of the unstability generated by this event, emerging democratic parties lead the country into a Monarchic Democracy. After the demise of Franco, Spain became a constitutional monarchy. Befitting its new-found prosperity, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as the leading economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological center on the Iberian peninsula.