Iberians, Romans and Muslims
The iberian settlement of Salduie, that Pliny the Elder identified with Salduvia, it is documented in the second half of the III century B.C. Two centuries later, in the I century B.C, this enclave was conquered by Rome. This was funded in the then Caesaraugusta. The new city was soon converted in the capital of the region. Thanks to that it enjoyed that priviliges such as tax exemption, theaters, and a forum. This was sustained by a rich economy, promoted by it´s river port and its roads.
During the final crisis of the Empire, concrete in 472, Caesaraugusta it was taken by the visigoths. Like this, it was incorporated to the Kingdom of Tolosa. In the VII century it converted in one of the most important cultural centers in the labor of diverse subjects. One of them was Braulio, situated among the major intellects of his era.
Later in . 714, Zaragoza was integrated to the caliphate of Córdoba under the name Saraqusta. Past the fall of the Omeyas, 1018, the taifa Kingdom of Zaragoza was set up. With that it also passed to be one of the greatest cultural and commercial center in the Ibérican Península.
El Cid
The exiled gentlemen Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, Cid Campeador, served to Zaragozan Kings: Al-Muqtadir and his son Al-Mutaman. He was involved in the betrayal of Rueda of Jalón, this almost cost the life of his ancient Sir Castellano. His spectacular victories motivated the Zaragozans to give the ¨Sidi¨ apellation. ¨Cid¨ is what had happened in past history.
Alfonso I the battler raptured the plaza from the muslims in 1118, converting it into the capital of the Kingdom of Aragón. During centuries, Zaragoza maintained a prosperous community in the Jewish community. This population lived its era of Major Apogee in the XIV and XV centuries. However, upon the need to defend themselves from the inquisition. This promoted a celebrated assessination that would accelerate its expulsion.
At the end of the XVI century, the fugitive Antonio Pérez, secretary of Philip II, took refugee in Zaragoza taking protection of Juan V of Lanuza. This would be based on the Privilege of Manifestation. This right limited the legal actions of the King of the Aragon territorry. The consequences were tremendous and ended the execution of Juan V of Lanuza and the taking of the city.
The Piedra Bridge in a photograph of the 19th century
The French
During the Independance war, the city suffered the known, “Sites of Zaragoza”. In 1808 the Aragon capital was fences two times by the French troops. His resistance converted it into a symbol of the anti-Napoleon resistance in all of Europe. This was based on the huge diffusion that had diverse engravings about the subject. The main ones are the Zaragoza Ruins, the Brambila and Gálvez, and the Disasters of the War, from Francisco of Goya. This last one masterly immortalized some of those events and their heros.