With a continental Mediterranean climate, Madrid’s average temperatures circa 35º C in the summer and 5º C in the winter.
Moorish Madrid
In the early 8th century, a Moorish army from North Africa conquered most of the Iberian peninsula. In 852, under Emir Mohamed I, they built a fortress (alcázar) to protect the northern approach to Toledo; it stood on the site of Madrid’s present-day royal palace. Named Mayrit (later Madrid), a small community arose around the alcázar.
Christian Conquest
In 1110, during the reconquest of Spain from centuries-long Islamic rule, Madrid fell. With the arrival of Alfonso VI, borders of Castille were shifted to Toledo. The move permitted the Islamic society to leave and continue following their traditions in southern Al-andalus.
In the 13th century, a dispute arose in Madrid over hunting rights on land owned by the Church. It was agreed that, while the Church owned the soil, Madrileños had rights to all that was above it, namely, game. Thus Madrid acquired its symbol: a bear sniffing a tree.
Royal Hunting Ground & The Hapsburgs
Madrid’s reputation as a hunting paradise attracted the attention of Castilian royals. The city was especially favoured by Enrique IV de Trastamara and from this time (14th century) forward, Madrid became one of the favorite residences of kings and court became settled there more and more frequently.
Felipe II in XVI century established Madrid as the capital of the kingdom. In this period, Spain lived its “Siglo de Oro”: Arts and literature flourished (Ribera, El Greco, Velázquez, Tirso de Molina and many more and the Monastery of el Escorial was built as the royal residence.
The Bourbon Zenith
After the 1706 War of Succession the first Bourbon king, Felipe V, inherited the throne. He found himself with a capital in a truly sad state. Madrid would not be distinguished as an authentic royal capital city until Carlos III (1716-1788) made modifications to the city.
The Republic
In 1873, the First Republic was proclaimed, but it only lasted two years. Alfonso XII was proclaimed king and at his death Alfonso XIII inherited the throne a continued to foster developments in the capital. Social differences between the inhabitants of Madrid became sharpened and the working class began to lean towards Marxism. Madrid was the scene of events that led to a social revolution, to a dictatorship, the abdication of the king and the start of the Second Republic which ended in a brutal Civil War.
The Civil War
By the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Madrid was one of the cities most affected. The postwar era was full of poverty and hunger. In spite of this, Madrid managed to grow, which also meant an increase in social problems. General Franco sougth to turn Madrid into an industrial city, whih caused large waves of migrant workers.
Dictatorship to Democracy
Franco’s death (1975) brought about the reinstallment of the monarchy in the figure of Juan Carlos I, who, under a banner of democracy, inaugurated a new era for Spain. In 19 April, 1979; the first city government voted in by the citizenry. The new major, Enrique Tierno Galván culturally enriched the city.
Modern Madrid
In 1992, Madrid became the Cultural Capital of Europe and a network of highways was completed that joined Madrid with the rest of the peninsula. The greatest growth has been seen in activities related to the movement of information, capital, goods and people, from financial and banking services, transport and travelling and business activities.
The metropolitan area of Madrid became in the 90's one of the main centres of the European Union in the south, enlarging its traditional role as a service centre only for Spain. Currently, the president of the Autonomous Community of Madrid is Esperanza Aguirre and the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz Gallardón.