Islamic Murcia

The first Islamic armies entered what later would be the kingdom of Murcia in the year 713 along the valley of the river Guadalentín, commanded by general Abdelaziz. They fought a Hispanic Visigoth army led by Teodomir in Cartagena and after signing a treaty, the banks of the river Segura became a cora, small province, in fact the cora of Tudmir (this is how the Arabs called the Visigothic leader). This small province would be ruled somewhat independently, by Teodomir himself until 825, when the emir of Córdoba. Abderramán II decided to play an active role in Murcia affairs, and ordered the building of the important and wealthy Cora of Tudmir.

From its solid defensive walls, which at one time oncluded 95 towers and eight gates, we still keep the remains of one tower. This is besides the Mercado de Verónicas, As well as numerous stretches of wall, with access to the public in different parts of the city: Santa Eulalia suare, ground floor of the Rincón de Pepe, Regional Palace of San Esteban, institute of Architectura, calle aliaga…

The numerous castles of Islamic origin still standing appear like symbols of those times of fights. Lorca, Alhama, Jumilla, Cieza, Xiquena, Aledo, Puebla de Mula, Mazarrón, and many other towns proudly exhibit the remains of their solid Islamic citadles. Of all of these the most spectacular because of its siting is probably that al Monteagudo, expectant watchtower over the fertile areas below from its sharp vantage point.

The remains of the nearby Catillejo de Monteagudo remind us of a sumptuous fortified Almoravid palace from the XII century. Its crossing courtyard, with all rooms distributed around its considered to be the precedent of a type of distribution wich would reach its height with the courtyard of Los leones, in the Alhambra of Granada. The plaster works that enriched its ceilings may be seen at the Archaeological Museum in Murcia.

Of all monuments in the old city of Mursiya, the Caramajul tower was especially remarkable. Archaeologists today place it in the site of the present building of the Islamic monarchs, with magnificent gardens and plasterworks filigrees. The palace was later used by different governors after the Reconquest, until 1365, when Peter I ceded the building to the nuns of the order of St Clare, who gradually changed its appearance. The restoration of the convent has allowed the excavations of the wall of the XIII century palace, and even the foundations of yet another palace. Almoravid from the XII century, over which the final group of monuments was erected. This is a cloistered convent, so there is no access to the public.

But it is another city, Medina Siyassa, discovered by the castle in Cieza, the most revealing example about the secrets of Hispanic Islamic dwellings. The surprisingly good knowledge of numerous features of daily life in an average city in Al-Andalus.