The Qasaba of

Murcia Murcia ( , , ) is a city in south-eastern Spain, the Capital (political), capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and the Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities#By population, seventh largest city i ...

was the military headquarters of the Emirate of Murcia. After the conquest by Castille it became a church and later part of a

Templar The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a military order of the Catholic faith, and one of the most important military orders in Western Christianity. They were founded in 11 ...

hospital, and is now the San Juan de Dios museum. Traditional historiography (later confirmed through archaeological excavations) already suggested the existence in

Al-Andalus Al-Andalus () was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The name refers to the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most o ...

of a vast palatial-military complex or citadel (''qasaba'') in this area of the city. Within its walls stood both the palace or official residence for the monarch or governor (''qasr'') and a small oratory, baths, and a ''rawda'' or pantheon, as well as other buildings linked to the court. Murallarabedemurcia

The Emirate of Murcia became a

protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over ...

of the

Crown of Castile The Crown of Castile was a medieval polity in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and, some decades later, the parliaments of the kingdoms of Kingdom of Castile, Castile and Kingd ...

under the

Treaty of Alcaraz The Treaty of Alcaraz was an agreement signed in Alcaraz, Albacete, Alcaraz around April 2, 1243, between Alfonso X of Castile, Alfonso of Castile – the future Alfonso X – acting on behalf of Ferdinand III of Castile, and several representativ ...

in 1243. As a result, Prince Alfonso (future

Alfonso X Alfonso X (also known as the Wise, ; 23 November 1221 – 4 April 1284) was King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1 June 1252 until his death in 1284. During the election of 1257, a dissident faction chose him to be king of Germany on 1 Ap ...

) entered the city on May 1 of that year, taking possession of the

Alcázar An ''alcázar'', from Arabic ''al-Qasr'', is a type of Islamic castle or palace in Spain built during Al-Andalus, Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries. They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout ...

Mayor. Meanwhile, the Muslim royal family members, who were still nominally "kings of Murcia," relocated with a growing proportion of the Muslim population to the

Al Qasr al-Sagir The Royal Monastery of Saint Clare (''Monasterio de Santa Clara la Real'') is a monastery of the Poor Clares located in Murcia, Spain. Originating in the 14th century and occupying the site of a 13th century Muslim palace, it is one of the most h ...

(Alcázar Menor) in the

Arrixaca Arrixaca (later San Esteban) was an ''arrabal'' (suburb) of Murcia, although it is now in the centre of the expanded city. It is the site of the Al-Andalusian palatial complex and neighborhood of San Esteban. Etymology The name may have Basque ...

suburb. This complex was later granted by

James I of Aragon James I the Conqueror ( Catalan/Valencian: ''Jaume I or Jaume el Conqueridor''; Aragonese: ''Chaime I'' ''o Conqueridor''; ; 2 February 1208 – 27 July 1276) was King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1 ...

to the primary

adelantado ''Adelantado'' (, , ; meaning 'advanced') was a title held by some Spain, Spanish nobles in service of their respective kings during the Middle Ages. It was later used as a military title held by some Spanish ''conquistadores'' of the 15th, 16th a ...

of Murcia, Alfonso García de Villamayor, after the Aragonese king suppressed the Mudejar revolt of 1264-1266. This marked the end of the

and the application of the

right of conquest The right of conquest was historically a right of ownership to land after immediate possession via force of arms. It was recognized as a principle of international law that gradually deteriorated in significance until its proscription in the af ...

over the city. A church was established here some time after 1243.

References

{{coord, 37.9832, -1.1280, type:landmark_region:ES, display=title Castles in the Region of Murcia Ruined castles in Spain History of al-Andalus