Sagunto
Encyclopedia
Sagunto or Sagunt (saˈɣunt) is an ancient city in Eastern Spain
, in the modern fertile comarca of Camp de Morvedre
in the province of Valencia
. It is located in a hilly site, c. 30 km north of Valencia
, close to the Costa del Azahar
on the Mediterranean Sea
. It was historically known as (Latin), and later Morvedre .
built a walled settlement on the hill overseeing the plain; a stretch of cyclopean limestone slabs from the former temple of Diana survives, close to the modern church of Santa Maria, but the settlement site is still older. The city traded with Greek and Phoenician coastal colonies
, and under their influence, minted its own coins
. During this period the city was known as Arse (Ripollès i Alegre 2002). By 219 BC
Saguntum was a large and commercially prosperous town, which sided with the local Greek colonists and Rome
against Carthage
, and drew Hannibal's first assault, his siege of Saguntum
, the opening move of the Second Punic War
. After a harsh resistance of several months, related by the Roman historian Livy
, Saguntum was captured in 219
by the armies of Hannibal.
Hispania was not meekly pacified and Romanized, as the Iberian career of Quintus Sertorius
makes clear. Saguntum minted coins under his protection, and continued to house a mint when, as Roman Saguntum, it was rebuilt and flourished with the rank of municipium. This later prosperity lasted most of the empire through, and is attested by inscriptions and ruins (notably a theater, demolished by Napoleon's marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet
, who also destroyed the Roman tower of Hercules). With the Arian
Visigothic kings, Saguntum received its Catholic patron saint
, a bishop named Sacerdos
, "the priest", who died peacefully of natural causes about AD 560
.
In the early eighth century the Muslim Arabs came and the city became part of the Caliphate of Cordoba
and at that time the city reached an era of splendor, with baths, palaces, mosques and schools open for its cosmopolitan population. Then, the town was known as Morvedre (Morviedro in Spanish), a word derived from Latin
muri veteres "ancient walls." However, as Valencia grew, Saguntum declined.
In 1098 the city was conquered by El Cid
but the Muslims recovered it shortly. The city had been under the Muslim Arab rule for over five hundred years when James I of Aragon
conquered it in 1238.
Saguntum was badly damaged in warfare, but has retained many Valencian Gothic
structures. In the late nineteenth century a steel-making industry grew up that supports the modern city, which extends in the coastal plain below the citadel hill.
The famed composer Don Joaquín Rodrigo
, who composed Concierto de Aranjuez
, among others, was born in Sagunt.
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...
, in the modern fertile comarca of Camp de Morvedre
Camp de Morvedre
Camp de Morvedre is a comarca in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Albalat dels Tarongers*Alfara de Algimia*Algar de Palancia*Algimia de Alfara*Benavites*Benifairó de les Valls*Canet d'En Berenguer*Estivella...
in the province of Valencia
Valencia (province)
Valencia or València is a province of Spain, in the central part of the Valencian Community.It is bordered by the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón, and the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is located in a hilly site, c. 30 km north of Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
, close to the Costa del Azahar
Costa del Azahar
Costa del Azahar or Costa dels Tarongers is the name for the coast of the province of Castellón in Spain, from Vinaròs to Almenara.Towns on the Costa del Azahar include Peníscola, Benicàssim and Castelló de la Plana....
on the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. It was historically known as (Latin), and later Morvedre .
History
During the 5th century BC, the CeltiberiansCeltiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
built a walled settlement on the hill overseeing the plain; a stretch of cyclopean limestone slabs from the former temple of Diana survives, close to the modern church of Santa Maria, but the settlement site is still older. The city traded with Greek and Phoenician coastal colonies
Colonies in antiquity
Colonies in antiquity were city-states founded from a mother-city—its "metropolis"—, not from a territory-at-large. Bonds between a colony and its metropolis remained often close, and took specific forms...
, and under their influence, minted its own coins
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
. During this period the city was known as Arse (Ripollès i Alegre 2002). By 219 BC
219 BC
Year 219 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paullus and Salinator...
Saguntum was a large and commercially prosperous town, which sided with the local Greek colonists and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
against Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
, and drew Hannibal's first assault, his siege of Saguntum
Siege of Saguntum
The Siege of Saguntum was a battle which took place between 219 BC and 218 BC between the Carthaginians and the Saguntines. The battle is mainly remembered today because it triggered one of the most important wars of antiquity, the Second Punic War....
, the opening move of the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
. After a harsh resistance of several months, related by the Roman historian Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
, Saguntum was captured in 219
219 BC
Year 219 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paullus and Salinator...
by the armies of Hannibal.
Hispania was not meekly pacified and Romanized, as the Iberian career of Quintus Sertorius
Quintus Sertorius
Quintus Sertorius was a Roman statesman and general, born in Nursia, in Sabine territory. His brilliance as a military commander was shown most clearly in his battles against Rome for control of Hispania...
makes clear. Saguntum minted coins under his protection, and continued to house a mint when, as Roman Saguntum, it was rebuilt and flourished with the rank of municipium. This later prosperity lasted most of the empire through, and is attested by inscriptions and ruins (notably a theater, demolished by Napoleon's marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet
Louis Gabriel Suchet
Louis Gabriel Suchet, 1st Duc d'Albufera was a Marshal of France and one of Napoleon's most brilliant generals.-Early career:...
, who also destroyed the Roman tower of Hercules). With the Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
Visigothic kings, Saguntum received its Catholic patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, a bishop named Sacerdos
Sacerdos of Saguntum
Saint Sacerdos of Saguntum is a Spanish saint. He is venerated as a bishop of Saguntum . He is patron saint of this town. He is said to have died of natural causes.-External links:*...
, "the priest", who died peacefully of natural causes about AD 560
560
Year 560 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 560 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ceawlin of Wessex becomes King of Wessex .*...
.
In the early eighth century the Muslim Arabs came and the city became part of the Caliphate of Cordoba
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 at that time the city reached an era of splendor, with baths, palaces, mosques and schools open for its cosmopolitan population. Then, the town was known as Morvedre (Morviedro in Spanish), a word derived from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
muri veteres "ancient walls." However, as Valencia grew, Saguntum declined.
In 1098 the city was conquered by El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
but the Muslims recovered it shortly. The city had been under the Muslim Arab rule for over five hundred years when James I of Aragon
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
conquered it in 1238.
Saguntum was badly damaged in warfare, but has retained many Valencian Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic 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....
structures. In the late nineteenth century a steel-making industry grew up that supports the modern city, which extends in the coastal plain below the citadel hill.
Main sights
- The remains of the Citadel (Castell), may be seen on top of the hill. It preserves much of its picturesque walled ramparts, of Roman and Moorish origin.
- A Roman theater, partly restored in late twentieth century. It is found on the northern slope of the citadel hill. It was the first official National Monument declared in Spain (1896).
- The Gothic Esglèsia de Santa Maria (St Mary's Church), in the Plaça Major (Main Square).
- The Palau Municipal (City Palace), or town hall; a beautiful 18th century building with a neoclassical façade.
- The early Gothic Esglèsia del Salvador (Church of Our Savior).
- The narrow streets of the Juderia (Old Jewish Quarter), on the hillside on the way up to the citadel.
- The 13th Century Santa Ana convent adjacent to the Plaça de Pi.
The famed composer Don Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...
, who composed Concierto de Aranjuez
Concierto de Aranjuez
The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century. ...
, among others, was born in Sagunt.