Location: Aragon Map
Constructed: 9th century
Alquezar Castle is a medieval Arab citadel situated on a hill in the Aragon province of Spain. It was constructed by the Muslim army to defend their possessions. Alquezar Castle was built in the 9th century by the orders of Arabic military general Jalaf ibn Rasid on behalf of the emir of Zaragoza. It was intended to defend Barbastro against Christian forces. Its name is derivative of an Arabic word Al- qasr that can be literally translated as "fort, castle". During re-conquest of Spain Alquezar fort fell in 1067 to the Christian armies under leadership of Sancho Ramirez. It went into possession of Kingdom of Aragon and later the kingdom of Spain. Alquezar Castle was declared a National Artistic Historical Monument of Spain.
It owes its name to the castle or al-qasr built to
defend the access to Barbitania.
9th century. Jalaf ibn Rashid
ordered the construction of the castle and it became the main point of
defense of Barbastro against the Christian kingdoms of Sobrarbe.
On
August 28, 1067, King Sancho Ramírez of Aragón granted the town of
Beranuy and Santa María de Sabiñánigo to the abbot of Fanlo "because you
built the tower in Alquézar" (CANELLAS, Cartulario de Fanlo, no. 46).
On April 27, 1069, Sancho Ramírez granted powers to Alquézar (LACARRA,
Documents, no. 2).
In 1075, Sancho Ramírez granted privileges to
Alquézar "when the siege of the Saracens was lifted" (MUÑOZ, Collection
of fueros, p. 252).
In February 1125, King Alfonso I the Battler
granted charters to Alquézar (LACARRA, Documents, no. 115).
It was
royal from its conquest until 1202 (MIRET, Itinerary of Pedro II, p.
266).
In 1218, King James I of Aragon gave the church of Alquézar to
the bishop of Tortosa (HUICI-CABANES, Documents, no. 12).
On February
6, 1233, while in Sariñena, Jaime I of Aragon granted the castle and
town of Alquézar to Artal de Foces (HUICI-CABANES, Documents of Jaime I,
no. 176).
On September 25, 1245, Jaime I of Aragón confirmed to
Alquézar's men the privileges given by King Sancho Ramírez, granting the
privileges of fair and market (HUICI-CABANES, Documents, no. 413).
On
January 28, 1290, it was royal (SINUÉS, No. 195).
In 1295 it was
royal (Codoín, 39, p. 299).
In 1327 the domains between the terms of
Alquézar and Alberuela de la Liena were demarcated (NAVARRO TOMÁS,
Linguistic Documents, no. 103).
On September 5, 1357, King Pedro IV
of Aragon sold the castle and town of Alquézar to Pedro Jordán de Urriés
(SINUÉS, no. 196).
On June 11, 1372, Pedro IV handed over the castle
and town of Alquézar to Gonzalo González in exchange for Ricla (SINUÉS,
no. 198).
On March 22, 1380, Violante de Urrea sold the castle, town
and villages of Alquézar to King Pedro IV (SINUÉS, no. 203).
On June
1, 1398, King Martin I of Aragon confirmed the purchase of Colungo by
those of Alquézar (SINUÉS, no. 205).
In 1610 the towns of Asque,
Colungo, Buera, Radiquero and San Pelegrín belonged to Alquézar (LABAÑA,
p. 63).
1960 – 1970 Radiquero joined him.
In 1966 the collegiate
church was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument.
In 1982
the urban area was declared a Historical-Artistic Site.