The saga of Murcia

The story of Murcia is a absorbing story of agriculture, business and INCURSIONS. In the very early days (500+ B.C.) Murcia's original population - Iberian tribes - had already time-honoured commercial ties with Phoenicians and Greeks. Later Hannibal Barca and his hordes from Carthage subjugated the county founding Carthago Nova, which these days is the smart sea town of Cartagena.

Then, inevitably came the Romans and in the 5th Century the Visigoths (a German race) who subjugated all of Spain under Euric then to be superceded by the Moors in 711.

The stylish city of Murcia (then called Mursiya) was founded in 825 A.D by The Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman II. Founded on the site of an old Roman Colony there are still lots of Moorish touches there not least in the impressive City walls.

Then came the civil war & the Caliphate was overthrown by native Spaniards to make way for an independent kingdom, which included (at its height) part of the modern provinces of Alicante & Almeria. Quieter times ensued until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-subjugated Murcia and the surrounding Counties. Savage oppression forced the predominantly Moslem community to convert to Christianity. All 20 mosques were forced to convert into Christaian churches.

Under rule from Central Spain the tale of Murcia took a quieter turn and the province of Murcia prospered and became one of Spain's architectural treasures by the start of the 18th century.

At the height of Murcia's good times and influence Napoleon Bonaparte spoilt the party by pillaging and looting the County in 1810. Then came an pandemic of plague and Cholera.. Then Murcia's fortunes declined until the last Century when Murcia could only claim to be a minor city. Murcia suffered serious violence during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and tragically many beautiful monuments and churches were destroyed. Economic deteriation also occurred as the lucrative silk market couldn't maintain it's effectiveness against the assault of man made fibres.

Recently Murcia has been revived by fruit crop cultivation and similar businesses.

It would appear that the next chapter in the saga of Murcia is underway, the latest invasion of Murcia is on and will again be from the north but this time the invaders will be golf course dwelling residents.

The monetary welfare of Murcia City is safe.