Aranjuez

History

• There are several theories about the origin of the name. The most accepted one states that it comes from Basque language. It derived from (hawthorne in English), Aran (meaning valley or plum in English). The old name of the city was Aranz. During the Middle Ages, the city was known as Aranzueque or Arançuex until it became Aranjuez. Other theories say that it comes from Latin Ara Jovis or Ara Iovia, which means Jupiter's Altar, but currently the Pre-Roman name is preferred.
• Middle Ages: incorporation into Saint James' Order.
• The Catholic kings converted Aranjuez into a Royal Site. Since then it has been the spring residence of the Kings of Spain since late 19th century.
• Philip II of Spain: Construction of the Royal Palace (Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera).
• 1752: During the kingdom of Ferdinand VI, the city of Aranjuez is born, as only the people related to the Monarch could live there until that moment.
• 1808: Mutiny of Aranjuez, by which Charles IV of Spain was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Ferdinand VII of Spain.
• 1851: Opening of the railway line between Madrid and Aranjuez, the so-called Strawberry Train. This is the second railway line in Spain, after that of Barcelona-Mataró (1848).
• 1939: Joaquín Rodrigo composes the Concierto de Aranjuez, which would make Aranjuez famous all over the world.
• 1983: Aranjuez is declared Conjunto Histórico Artístico, literally Historic Artistic Junction.
• 2001: Unesco awards Aranjuez with Cultural Landscape as World Heritage.