written by William Perkins & Henry Owen, posted by Henry Owen due to IT difficulties
Toledo was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 thanks to the important roles it held for the many different empires and kingdoms it survived. The city has had considerable influence on surrounding areas and events for many different reasons—during the Visigoth period, it was the capital of a far-reaching kingdom, and during the Renaissance, it was one of the most important cities in Spain. Toledo showcases well-preserved tradition, architectural features, and structures from a vast number of historic civilizations, as well as having a long history in the production of steel and swords.
Antiquity
One of the first recorded accounts of the city of Toletum came from the Roman historian Livy, describing the place as a “small city, fortified by location”. This is in reference to the city’s geography, situated on a promontory that is surrounded by the Tagus River on three sides. Before Roman occupation, it was once inhabited by a Celtic tribe, the Carpetani. Roman general Marcus Fulvius Nobilior conquered the city in 193 BCE and the city would remain important throughout the different eras of Roman administration, though its importance grew more in the later periods. During the time of the Romans, a circus was constructed in Toletum, becoming one of the largest circuses in Hispania. This circus was used for chariot races on special holidays, and records exist that show there were games paid for by a private citizen to celebrate him becoming a priest. Along with the circus, public baths, a water supply, and a storage system were also constructed.
Middle Ages
During the sixth century, Toledo was the capital of the Visigothic court and was host to a series of famous church councils, the third of which featured King Recared’s conversion to Christianity—and most of these councils were held to discuss and deal with religious issues and conflicts. From the early eighth century to the late eleventh century the Moors occupied the city, putting down multiple revolts from the city due to issues with Parias (tribute) and territorial mutilations. During the Umayyad caliphate, a governor was held hostage in Toledo in a demand for the return of Toledan hostages that were being held in Cordoba. This escalated into a feud with the city of Calatrava la Vieja, and Toledo attacked and nearly destroyed Calatrava in the mid-800s. Though Toledo suffered a defeat, they did not surrender, and after more unsuccessful military moves from both sides, Toledo remained virtually independent for the next two decades until Muhammad I finally successfully sieged Toledo and gained control. A large contingent of the population were Mozarabs during the Moorish occupation and integrated smoothly when King Alfonso VI conquered the city.
After a protracted set of military campaigns, Toledo became the most important political and social hub of Castile. The residents were a mix of culturally Jewish, Muslim, and Christian subjects who all engaged in cross-cultural efforts such as when Alfonso X established the Escuela de Traductores (School of Translators) to facilitate such interactions in the thirteenth century. Toledo also hosted a royal library and at least one private library, with records showing that one contained copies of religious commentaries, religious works, and works that would later become very influential on medieval Spanish laws. However, these efforts were not without internal strife as the Archdiocese of Toledo sponsored multiple persecutions throughout the seventh century. The Kingdom of Toledo doubled down on this trend as many forced conversions, mass murders, and riots would follow in the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Toledo remained a key part of Spain’s holdings until its importance decreased drastically during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperors.
Modern Era
The Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, would choose Toledo as his residence fifteen times over his lengthy reign, granting the city its coat of arms. When Charles V named Toledo as his (temporary) seat, it entered a period of economic and political decadence. Toledo would remain relevant to the empire even when Phillip II made Madrid the capital in 1560, drastically lowering the city’s importance to the empire, even as the population increased to over 50,000. The Archbishops of the city remained powerful figures in local politics, owning vast swaths of land in the Inner Plateau and some nearby outer territories.
Many years after the Reconquista, a mass deportation of Moriscos to the city caused quite a stir due to the recent Alpujarras rebellion and the logistical feat of transporting the migrants to the city. The remaining social system that had weathered the mixing cultures and social classes was destroyed by the immigration wave, influencing a long trend of xenophobic attacks on the Morisco population.
For centuries the city excelled in the manufacture of silk, growing in prosperity until the Peninsular War. In the nineteenth century, Toledo gradually transitioned from a convent city into a more secular bureaucratic administration. This change in policy carried the city through the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s regime.
Just before the Spanish Civil War, the Alcázar of Toledo (which had been built during the reign of Charles V) was serving as the Infantry’s military academy. During the war, it was used as a refuge for Nationalists and was sieged by Republican troops and militias for two months until Franco ordered the Army of Africa to rescue the Alcázar. The siege failed, though the building was very nearly destroyed. This “liberation” did result in a major propaganda victory for Franco and gave rise to many tales of heroism and sacrifice, though many of them had been far removed from the actual events of the siege.
During Franco’s regime, the city remained a major tourist destination and an ideal location for diplomatic meetings. One of the most important meetings that took place in the city was in 1940 between Heinrich Himmler and Director General of Security José Finat y Escrivá de Romaní to inspect Spanish security forces and discuss future Spanish-German cooperation. During his visit, Himmler toured the ruins of the Alcázar.
