Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a city located in today’s Spanish Comunidad Autónoma de Castilla-La Mancha. The foundation of the town dates from the eighth century, at the beginning of the Arab domination. The bridge on the river Henares goes back to the time of the medieval wad al-hayara and is the oldest architectural work of the city as is the urban structure of the city centre. Conquered by Alfonso VI of Castile in the eleventh century, it linked his fate, from the fourteenth century, to the fortunes of the Mendoza family, being awarded the title of Dukes of Infantado in 1475. Guadalajara also enjoyed the right to send representatives, with the right to vote, to the cortes of Castile, the representative assembly of the kingdom. With the transfer of the Mendoza to Madrid in the wake of the court, the city gradually lost importance. It was sacked during the War of the Spanish Succession.