Zafra
Encyclopedia
Zafra is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz (Extremadura
, Spain
), and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,242, according to the figures of 2009.
Zafra is the hometown of Fray Ruy Lopez, author of one of the first European treatises on chess, and the humanist and arbitrist Pedro de Valencia.
was found in the nearby chapel of Belén.
In the surrounding areas there are many Roman
villa
s, reminiscent of the legendary Segeda
, which could be the origin in the town. A significant fact is that Zafra is located between Badajoz, and Seville
, the capital of the province of Baetica.
In medieval times, Zafra was situated on the border which divided the domains of Seville
and Badajoz
, and in 1030 a defensive fortification was constructed in the Castellar Mountains. This fort would be named Sajra Abi Hassan by the Moorish geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri
in 1094. The Arabs named the town Safra, or Cafra, from which derived the current name.
During the Reconquista
, Zafra was captured twice by Christian
forces, first in 1229 by Alfonso IX, and then definitely by Ferdinand III
, in a campaign through present-day Extremadura
described in Alfonso X's Crónica General de España
(General History of Spain).
However, the most momentous change was the granting of the city by Henry III of Castile
to Gomes Suárez de Figueroa, who until then had been a servant to the queen and son of the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago
. Gomes' son and second title-holder, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, began to make Zafra the center of the domain of Feria. He started building a wall with the dual purpose of defense and control of neighbors, merchants, and travelers. Its construction lasted from 1426 to 1449 (or 1442). Also in 1437 he ordered the construction of one of the most emblematic buildings of the city, El Alcázar, which would be his residence. Additionally, he funded the hospital of Santiago and finished the Convent of the Clares of Saint Mary of the Valley, which would be used as a mausoleum
for his family. In 1460, Henry IV of Castile
raised the district to the status of a county, and added the villages of Halconer y La Morena to Lorenzo's domain.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the city was modernized, an example of which was the conversion of the Alcázar into a palace of the Austria
n style, and a new church was completed. All this modernization was begun when the fifth count of Feria was raised to a duke
and grandee
in 1567, for his contributions to the state under Felipe II
.
In the 17th century, the Dukedom of Feria
was united with the Marqueship of Priego
, and in the 18th century it was integrated with the Dukedom of Medinaceli.
Zafra has always been an industrial and commercial city, serving surrounding areas mainly dedicated to agriculture. A commercial base are the fairs that have been celebrated for Saint John
since 1395 and for Saint Michael since 1453.
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, 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...
), and the capital of the comarca of Zafra - Río Bodión. It has a population of 16,242, according to the figures of 2009.
Zafra is the hometown of Fray Ruy Lopez, author of one of the first European treatises on chess, and the humanist and arbitrist Pedro de Valencia.
History
Human traces of great antiquity have been found in the area. In the "El Castellar" mountains are located caves with pictograms. Also, a fort dating to the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
was found in the nearby chapel of Belén.
In the surrounding areas there are many Roman
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....
villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
s, reminiscent of the legendary Segeda
Segeda
Segeda is an ancient settlement, near today's Zaragoza in modern-day Spain. Originally it was a Celtiberian town, whose inhabitants, the Belli, gave it the name Sekeida. In 153 BC it was destroyed in a war with the Romans. Soon after, a new settlement was built on a nearby site...
, which could be the origin in the town. A significant fact is that Zafra is located between Badajoz, and Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, the capital of the province of Baetica.
In medieval times, Zafra was situated on the border which divided the domains of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
and Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
, and in 1030 a defensive fortification was constructed in the Castellar Mountains. This fort would be named Sajra Abi Hassan by the Moorish geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri
Abu Abdullah al-Bakri
', or simply Al-Bakri was an Andalusian-Arab geographer and historian.-Life:Al-Bakri was born in Huelva, the son of the sovereign of the short lived principality of Huelva. When his father was deposed by al-Mu'tadid he moved to Córdoba where he studied with the geographer al-Udri and the...
in 1094. The Arabs named the town Safra, or Cafra, from which derived the current name.
During the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, Zafra was captured twice by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
forces, first in 1229 by Alfonso IX, and then definitely by Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III of Castile
Saint Ferdinand III, T.O.S.F., was the King of Castile from 1217 and León from 1230. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage he was also Count of Aumale. He finished the work done by his maternal grandfather Alfonso VIII and consolidated the...
, in a campaign through present-day Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
described in Alfonso X's Crónica General de España
Literature of Alfonso X
Alfonso X of Castile, also known as Alfonso the Learned, ruled from 1252 until 1284. One of Alfonso’s goals for his kingdom was to lift Spain out of the Dark Ages by producing a united, educated, artistic, and religious population...
(General History of Spain).
However, the most momentous change was the granting of the city by Henry III of Castile
Henry III of Castile
Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390....
to Gomes Suárez de Figueroa, who until then had been a servant to the queen and son of the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
. Gomes' son and second title-holder, Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, began to make Zafra the center of the domain of Feria. He started building a wall with the dual purpose of defense and control of neighbors, merchants, and travelers. Its construction lasted from 1426 to 1449 (or 1442). Also in 1437 he ordered the construction of one of the most emblematic buildings of the city, El Alcázar, which would be his residence. Additionally, he funded the hospital of Santiago and finished the Convent of the Clares of Saint Mary of the Valley, which would be used as a mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
for his family. In 1460, Henry IV of Castile
Henry IV of Castile
Henry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile...
raised the district to the status of a county, and added the villages of Halconer y La Morena to Lorenzo's domain.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the city was modernized, an example of which was the conversion of the Alcázar into a palace of the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n style, and a new church was completed. All this modernization was begun when the fifth count of Feria was raised to a duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
and grandee
Grandee
Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
in 1567, for his contributions to the state under Felipe II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
In the 17th century, the Dukedom of Feria
Feria
A feria was a day on which the people, especially the slaves, were not obliged to work, and on which there were no court sessions...
was united with the Marqueship of Priego
Priego
Priego is a municipality located in the province of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 1,052 inhabitants....
, and in the 18th century it was integrated with the Dukedom of Medinaceli.
Zafra has always been an industrial and commercial city, serving surrounding areas mainly dedicated to agriculture. A commercial base are the fairs that have been celebrated for Saint John
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
since 1395 and for Saint Michael since 1453.
Festivals
- Feria Internacional Ganadera ("International Rancher's Fair"), held in the last week of September and the first week of October.
- De la luna al fuego, celebrated on the second to last week of June, coinciding with the festival of Saint JohnNativity of St. John the BaptistThe Nativity of St. John the Baptist is a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus and who baptized Jesus.-Significance:Christians have long interpreted the life of John the Baptist as a preparation for...
- Semana Santa ("Easter"), held according to the church's calendar.
- The CarnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
. It includes the Festival of Fat, where a number of pig products are tasted in the plazas. - San IsidroSan Isidro, AlicanteSan Isidro, Alicante is a village in the province of Alicante and autonomous community of Valencia, Spain....
, held at the end of the week closest to May 15. - Procession of our lady the Virgen of Belén, held on the Sunday following Resurrection Sunday.
Twin towns — sister cities
Zafra is twinned with:| Rambouillet Rambouillet Rambouillet is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.It is located in the suburbs of Paris southwest from the center... , France |