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Madrid(Travellers | Cities | Routes | Trade Goods | Themes) Although the area was inhabited in prehistoric times, Madrid came into existence only in the 9th century. The Ummayad ruler of al-Andalus, Muhammad I (852-886) built a fortress on the hill where the present royal palace stands. This is referred to in the few Arabic texts that mention the city as hisn Majrit, 'the fortress of Majrit'. The citadel within the fortress was called al-Mudayna, 'the little city'; its name has been preserved in that of the Basilica of Santa Maria de la Almudena. Conquered by Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083, the city suffered various disasters, including fire, and was rebuilt by Henry III of Castile in the late 14th century. It was not until 1561, however, that Philip II, conscious of the advantages of a central location, moved the capital definitively to Madrid, although Seville continued to control Spain’s overseas possessions. The result was an atypical and somewhat artificial city, which until the 19th century was largely dependant on the court.
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