Our history
Prehistory
The first traces of humans in the environment of Calahorra date back to the Lower Paleolithic, where tools have been found carved in stone to get the edge, found in The Marcú and Cantarrayuela.
The Acheulean, the second phase of the Lower Paleolithic, characterized by tools such as bifaces and triedros, made by Homo Erectus. sites most representative are found in Retriever and The Marcú.
The Mousterian or Middle Palaeolithic period, corresponding to the man of Neanderthal, is characterized by advances in lithic technology and the exploitation of the environment. The material traces of this phase are found in Montote, Retriever and The Marcú.
In the Upper Palaeolithic period, highlights the industry of leaves, although no evidence has been found of art in Calahorra in. The transition to the Neolithic is marked by the use of stone polished and ceramic, which marks the beginning of agriculture, livestock, and sedentarization.
In the II millennium.C., although the iron was still unknown, the copper and tin are used to make bronze, a-alloy, strong and durable for the manufacture of tools, weapons and ornaments. The arrival of new methods and the diffusion of ideas among the people was fundamental to the cultural development.
During the Bronze Age, it breaks down the cultural uniformity, and the metallurgy begins to develop, especially in the valley of the Ebro, where the groups were devoted mainly to agriculture and livestock. The remains of this stage in Calahorra is located in Perdiguero, Montote, Hill Sorbán and The Marcú, highlighting pieces of flint, such as arrowheads.
From the EIGHTH century.C. with the arrival of the iron, there is a transformation in the metallurgy of the peninsula, influenced by the colonizing greeks and phoenicians. In Calahorra, the Hill of Sorbán stands out as one of the settlements most important of this time. You have found housing with sockets of stone, adobe walls, and a defensive system with pits.
During the Second Age of Iron (Iron (II), the metallurgy of iron is consolidated, while the bronze was used only for decorations. At this stage, the people celtiberians bloom in the valley of the Ebro. The settlements were arranged in strategic locations in an easy-defence, such as Calahorra , and the cerro San Miguel in Arnedo.
Advances in the metallurgy of iron and the introduction of the winch to the ceramic marked a big change, promoting agriculture and the development of the decorated pottery. This type of pottery that begins to occur in Calahorra, just when you leave other settlements such as The Valladar and The Marcú.
Ancient history (s. II.C – s. IV.C.)
The starting point of the linkage of Calagurris with Rome is located in the landing of Gnaeus Scipio in Ampurias in 218 to.C., in the framework of the Second Punic War. Although initially conceived as a military campaign against Carthage, the roman intervention in the Iberian peninsula ended with the occupation and exploitation of the territory.
In 187 to.C., registers the first clash between the celtiberians and romans near Calagurris, marking the first time the city appears in the story. After the foundation of Gracchurris (current Alfaro) and the consolidation of the area, Calagurris obtains the status of community estipendiaria, which implied the obligation to pay taxes to Rome. From this time, the city minted coin in brass, with a design roman and headings iberian.
During the first quarter of the first century a.C., in the framework of the civil wars of the Roman Republic, Calagurris aligns with Sertorio against Sila. This alliance leads to the destruction of the city in 72.C. at the hands of the troops of Pompey. After the victory of Caesar over Pompey in 48.C., the calagurritanos are rewarded, and Calagurris becomes a municipium in roman law around 30.C., getting the name of Calagurris Iulia Nassica. In this period, including the coinage monetary with the figure of Augustus.
From this moment, Calagurris you experience a major urban development. The city spreads out from the old to the Paseo del Mercadal, and are constructed public buildings as well as a circus for horse racing. In addition, planned a theatre, an amphitheatre and a forum. On the outskirts of the city, is located the necropolis, where they found grave goods in the tombs of incineration and burial.
The water supply is ensured by means of an aqueduct from the springs of the Sierra La Hez. This supply system not only guarantees the consumer, but also the functioning of the public baths. In addition, Calagurris account with an advanced system of sewers, such as the one found in the area of St. Andrew street and in The Clinic, built to evacuate the water from the hot springs resorts.
The archaeological discoveries in Calagurris include sculptures, such as the Lady Calagurritana, mosaics of great beauty and high quality ceramic. It is also found jewelry, like a pendant of gold with pearls. These samples reflect the richness and dynamism of the city in this period.
In terms of the rural environment, organized by the centuriación, distributing lands for cultivation and promoting the construction of villas for the exploitation of agricultural, livestock and industrial. A prominent example is the alfar romano of The Maja, who produced pottery of luxury, such as small pots decorated with scenes of daily life.
Throughout the third century, the Roman Empire enters into an economic and political crisis, which causes the patriciate urban moving to the rural area. Calagurris responds to this crisis by building a wall on the second half of the third century, leading to the depopulation of some urban areas. This transformation is evident in the construction of the wall, whose remains can still be seen in the area of San Blas.
With the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, the Empire experienced a brief respite, but the barbarian invasions of the fifth century marked the end of the prosperity of Calagurris, giving the start of a new stage in the history of the city, characterized by a period of decline.
Late Antiquity (siglos V-VII)
In the fifth century, occurs the dissolution definitive of the Roman State in the western part of the Empire. In Christmas of 406, the barbarians crossed the limes rhine, and in the fall of 409 crossing the Pyrenees, occupying the Iberian Peninsula without that Rome can stop them. The geo-political situation is unstable between the centuries V and VII, affecting Calagurris and its environment, that becomes a zone of passage for military incursions. The suevi, vandals, alans, vascon, and the visigoths made looting and clashes, with the goal of expanding or consolidating their territories against external threats.
In this climate of chaos, the inhabitants of Calagurris is forced to take refuge in the mountains, hiding their most valuable assets to protect themselves from the destruction. Many are seeking refuge in caves and buildings precarious, giving origin to the important cave art of the Cidacos river, precursor of the future population centres altomedievales.
In addition, in the first half of the fifth century, the rise of the bagaudas, groups of peasants dispossessed through the valley of the Ebro looting and terrorizing the wealthy owners of large estates, such as the properties in Campobajo or Stone Stuck. These groups represent an additional threat in a territory, already hit by the external attacks.
The decision of Tarraco by Eurico in 474 puts an end to the roman administration of the province of Tarragona, which puts Calagurris under the orbit of the kingdom goth Toulouse. After the defeat of the visigoths by the franks in 507 at the battle of Poitiers, the visigoths crossed en masse to the peninsula. With the intermediate ostrogothic, Atanagildo established Toledo as the new capital, founding a kingdom based on the traditions of the hispano-roman.
Throughout this process, Calagurris consolidates its position as a key point in the visigothic kingdom, especially in the northern border of the kingdom. In this context, Suintila (621-631) coins currency in Calagurris to finance operations against the vascones. Wamba (672-680), and also in the fight against the vascones, passes by Calagurris in order to recruit men and supplies.
During these centuries of political instability, the urban aristocracy, and the group’s episcopal benefit from the power, these being the main actors in the new structure of local power. The city maintains many of the institutions of the roman, although it was gradually transformed into a prestigious episcopal see. The martyrs Emeterio and Celedonio become symbols of hope for the community, representing the “defenders of heaven” of Calagurris in a period marked by the lack of a political power centralized and an increase in the relations of personal obedience.
Calahorra Islamic (siglos VIII-XI)
After the defeat of the visigoth monarch Don Rodrigo in the battle of the Guadalete river, the troops arabs and berbers came to Calahorra between 714 and 716, embedding it into Al-Andalus. Although the city became part of islamic territory, the greater part of its inhabitants maintained their christian faith until the tenth century, being documented the destruction of his church in 932 by Almundus. On this christian population, ruled by an elite muladí, that is, converts to Islam. The Banu Qasi, the descendants of the count hispanogodo Casius, exercised a self-government on the valley of the Ebro, alternating between the submission to the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba and the alliances with the lineage of the Arista of Pamplona.
During this time, the emirs Abd al-Rahman I and Al-Hakam I undertook expeditions against Calahorra in the years 781 and 796, respectively. In this period, Calahorra became a hisn position (fortified) the Upper Mark of Al-Andalus. The hisn Qalahurra was located in the highest part of the city, in what is today known as the rasillo of San Francisco, and its walled town could be extended to the line of the towers of the plaza of the Satin and the street Road. Of this period, is preserved in the tower of the gate of the Rose.
Along the X century, the decline of the Banu Qasi and the replacement of the Edge on the Covers in Pamplona, increased the pressure christian on the Top Mark of Al-Andalus. La Rioja Alta was conquered by Sancho Garcés I, king of Pamplona, and Calahorra changed several times with hands, suffering from various forms of destruction. However, in 968, Galib b. Abd al-Rahman, the vizier of the caliph of Cordoba, Al-Hakam II, he came back and repopulated the city. During his tenure, it was rebuilt, the walls, adding an eighth tower at the top of the hill and placing a garrison in it. These reforms were part of the political caliphate to secure the borders with the gardening and fortification of the urban cores.
This period of stability allowed the growth of Calahorra was under muslim control. It created a network of canals that took advantage of the water of both banks of the Cidacos river, which allowed for irrigated agriculture in the area. The increase of the population, along with the development of these spaces, agricultural, facilitated the expansion of the city, which extended from the rasillo of San Francisco to the banks of the Cidacos river, giving rise to a new neighborhood, suburb calagurritano. This new space was structured around the old roman road and one of the canals of irrigation. The entrance to the ghetto was carried out by the San Miguel gate, and the area welcomed commercial activities in the market and the corn exchange, as well as recreational activities and religious, with the possible existence of a mosque near the present cathedral.
In the rural area, were recorded names as “Benesat” or “Come Cafla” (today Mencabla) indicating the settlement of groups clánicos. In addition, we began to create large farms controlled by the elite military of the border, they could also fulfill recreational functions or defensive, as the almunias or fortified towers, such as the tower of Almudebar.
From 1031, the fitna, or disintegration of the caliphate of Córdoba, divided Al-Andalus in various taifa kingdoms, which began to pay outsiders to the christian kingdoms of the north. In this context, García Sánchez III, king of Pamplona, attacked the taifa Hudí of Zaragoza, and in 1045 Calahorra was finally taken by Pamplona, being considered by many as the actual beginning of the reconquest of hispania, as was the first islamic city of a certain importance recovered by the christian kingdoms.
Baja edad Media (siglos XI-XV)
April 30, 1045, king of pamplona-García Sánchez III reconquest definitely Calahorra, integrating it to the kingdom of Pamplona-Nájera. In this process, the jewish population is relocated in the Rasillo of San Francisco, while the greater part of the arab population leaves the city or converted to christianity. Despite this, a small community in an islamic or moorish remains.
The cathedral of Calahorra becomes one of the main centers of power in the city, concentrating on their environment the religious and administrative buildings. This gives rise to the neighborhood of Santa María or El Burgo, which will expand thanks to the growth of the population, especially after the arrival of population franca attracted by the pilgrimage route. During this period, he also built the church of Santiago the Elder, who would later become the basis of the parish of San Cristóbal and Santiago.
Population growth leads to the expansion beyond the moorish wall, forming the new district of Santiago. In the rural area, the landscape of islamic begins to transform with the expansion of vine crops, and cereal, and there are small villages like Villanueva, San Felices, Sansol, and Aguilar.
The city, located between the kingdoms of Castile and Pamplona, plays a key role as “limes” on the border between Christianity and Islam. During this period, Alfonso I “the Battler” incorporates Calahorra to Castile in 1076. His influence extends through the marriage with the queen Urraca in 1109. After his death, Alfonso VII recovered the city in 1135, and signing the Peace of Calahorra with García Ramírez, king of Pamplona.
In 1151, the cathedral of Calahorra is the setting for the wedding of Sancho III of Castile and Blanca, daughter of Sancho VI “the Wise” of Navarre. Despite this union, the conflict between Castile and Navarre continue, as evidenced when Sancho VI plundered Calahorra in 1163. However, in 1179, after a forceful response of Castile, navarre are finally expelled the north of the Ebro.
In 1366, Calahorra is now the scene of the coronation of Henry II of Trastamara during the civil war that had this with his half-brother Peter I for the throne of Castile. In 1466, Calahorra is occupied briefly by the count of Foix, but the calagurritanos able to expel the invader.
The strategic importance of Calahorra in the border of the Ebro river leads to the monarchs to grant privileges. In 1110, Alfonso “el Batallador” gives you a jurisdiction, and Alfonso VII improvement in 1135. Alfonso VIII granted tax exemptions in 1181 and authorizes the minting of currency. Later, in 1255, Alfonso X granted the right to hold a weekly market on Wednesday.
Over the centuries, Calahorra grows and expands, absorbing neighboring peoples. Alfonso XI granted the lordship of Murillo in 1335, and the Catholic Monarchs granted new lands in 1488. This expansion also supports the council of Calahorra, which increases their autonomy and power.
Modern age (XVI-XVIII centuries)
At the beginning of the SIXTEENTH century, Calahorra was a small walled city with a flourishing economy, although affected by crisis demographic caused by epidemics and food shortage, especially in the SEVENTEENTH century. However, by the EIGHTEENTH century, these seizures became less frequent, which allowed for a steady growth of the population, that were somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 inhabitants.
The majority of the inhabitants belonged to the state flat or pecheros, that they had to pay taxes, and perform military service. The minor nobility, composed of nobility, was also a part of the population, although many of them had to work to survive. All contributed to the support of the clergy by tithing and firstfruits, while the rate of illiteracy was high, although there was a teacher who taught the basics.
The government of the city resided in the City Council, composed by the aldermen, deputies, and presided over by a magistrate, usually absent. This group was in charge of the administration of justice, collection of taxes and the regulation of economic activity, notably trade and agriculture.
The main economic activity of Calahorra was based on agriculture, in which he worked more than 70% of the population. The city was known for its production of vegetables, fruits, grapes, peppers, and lettuce in the EIGHTEENTH century, in addition to farming, hunting and fishing, to a lesser extent. The industry was scant, limited to a few tanneries, jabonerías and a brickyard. Despite the lack of large-scale industries, the craft activity covering almost all the needs of the population.
Daily life in Calahorra revolved around the plazas, especially Plaza of the Vegetable until the SIXTEENTH century, when the Ceiling began to gain importance as a centre for social and festive. In the SEVENTEENTH century, the Satin became the heart of the city, where they were celebrated with processions, festivals, bullfighting festivals, theatrical performances and proclamations real.
The city is characterised by its appearance in the convent, with three parishes, three convents, and nine chapels, which were grouped around small plazas. The festivals are celebrated with great fervour, which also influenced the shape of buildings and the urban planning of the city.
Calahorra in the NINETEENTH century
In the NINETEENTH century, Calahorra lived in a context of political and social changes that reflected the turmoil experienced by the country. The city, although it was not an epicenter of fighting war, was affected by the political tensions generated by the napoleonic occupation. Since the invasion of the French troops in 1807 until his retirement in 1813, Calahorra experienced looting, arrests and internal conflicts between frenchified and patriots, which impoverished many families. In addition, the bishop of the city, Francisco Mateo Aguiriano, was ousted by the French, but later he participated in the drafting of the Constitution of Cádiz in 1812.
With the return of Ferdinand VII in 1814, and the restoration of absolutism, it opened a period of political instability, which intensified with the uprising of Irrigation in 1820 and the beginning of the Mandate Constitutional. However, the intervention of France in 1823, with the Hundred thousand sons of St. Louis, put an end to the constitutional experience, consolidating the absolutist regime. Throughout this period, Calahorra lived a number of transformations, political and territorial, as the creation of the province of Logroño in 1822, he left behind his linking administrative Soria.
After 1830, with the promulgation of the Pragmatic Sanction, was introduced to the succession female to the throne, which triggered the dispute between the supporters of Isabel II and his uncle, Carlos María Isidro. In Calahorra, this led to social divisions between realists and liberals. The carlist war that followed lasted until 1839, when the signing of the Convention of Vergara put an end to the fighting. At that time, the city celebrated the end of the war celebrations and the return of prisoners.
In the 1830s, the desamortizaciones affected Calahorra, especially to their properties, religious, such as the Carmelites and the Franciscans, whose constructions were transformed into prison or military barracks. This transformation also had an impact on the church activities, marking the end of an era of great influence of the Church.
Throughout the NINETEENTH century, Calahorra lived an economic modernization that allowed him to grow. The canning industry began to be implemented, and to 1890, nearly half of the canneries of Spain were in the city. This industrial boom led to the creation of the Banking Moreno in 1891. In addition, agriculture remained an important pillar, to benefit from public investment and construction of infrastructure, such as the swamp Retriever.
In terms of infrastructure, the NINETEENTH century brought advancements such as the telegraph and the Post office in 1868, plus the addition of new avenues of communication, such as the Royal Road (N-232) in 1830 and the railroad Castejón-Bilbao in 1863. These improvements allowed for the trade and connectivity, consolidating Calahorra as a key hub in the region.
Calahorra in the TWENTIETH century
At the end of the NINETEENTH century, Calahorra lived social and political tensions arising from the food crisis, and the popular discontent, which led to protests throughout Spain, including the city. The “riot of 1892” arose primarily because of the attempt to move the episcopal see of Logroño and the opposition to the consumption tax. This episode left a rivalry for land between the political capital and the capital of the diocese, a conflict that continues to the present day.
In 1900, the city had 9.475 inhabitants and an economy based primarily on agriculture, with a social structure characterized by the minifundismo. The first two decades of the TWENTIETH century were key to the economic growth, thanks to the expansion of irrigation systems through construction of the dam of the Waterproof Retriever (1885) and the Canal de Lodosa. The arrival of the traditionalism of the carlist movement also influenced local politics, with the Party Jaimista gaining prominence.
A milestone during this period was the installation of the sugar in 1916, which led to the production of beet and stimulated the local economy. The First World War went in favor of Calahorra, who became a major supplier to the sides in conflict, solidifying the city as a leader in the canning industry.
In the years 20, Calahorra experienced a growth industrial and social. The catholic unionism agrarian dominated, although socialist and anarchist trade unions began to gain strength. The city also lived through the Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, who was generally well received by the sector traditionalist, but the economic crisis and the crash of 1929 negatively affected industries, especially to the cannery.
In 1931, the proclamation of the Second Republic, Pike Díez San Juan, the first republican mayor, he promoted urban improvements to alleviate unemployment. However, in 1934, the Civil Governor ceased to councillors republicans and replaced by monarchists. The civil war of 1936 had a quick outcome in Calahorra, with the entry of the troops sublevadas, although the suppression was fierce, and left a balance of 214 shot in the city.
During the dictatorship of Franco, the city lived a centralization of power under a single union, with the construction of key infrastructures such as city Hall, the slaughterhouse, and the Barracks of the Civil Guard. Calahorra experienced urban growth, highlighting the development of Paseo del Mercadal and the expansion of the city.
Despite the urban expansion in the years 60, Calahorra did not take advantage of all the economic boom of the period. The canning industry has lost relevance, and the city failed to attract new industries leading. At the end of the 60’s and 70’s, youth calagurritana began to create an associative movement that revived the cultural and social life, marking the beginning of a shift towards plurality and tolerance.
With the arrival of democracy, Calahorra experienced a significant transformation, streamlined and equipped with essential services, becoming a city that is more advanced and cosy, with more than 24,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the TWENTY-first century.