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| ''Turóseuvella''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> | ''Turóseuvella''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> | ||
| It shares the hill with the ], the foundation stone of which was laid in 1203, following conquest of the Muslim city of Larida in 1149 by the Catalan counts ] and ].<ref>{{in lang|es}}. ''Turóseuvella''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> | It shares the hill with the ], the foundation stone of which was laid in 1203, following conquest of the Muslim city of Larida in 1149 by the Catalan counts ] and ].<ref>{{in lang|es}}. ''Turóseuvella''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> On a neighbouring hill, just over a mile away, there is another fortress, the ] 12th-century ], built by the ], and which defends the only accessible side of the castle. In the 19th century, at the time of ], there were also the two strong fortifications of San Fernando and Pilar.<ref>] (1883). ''Google Books''. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> | ||
| On a neighbouring hill, just over a mile away, there is another fortress, the ] 12th-century ], built by the ], and which defends the only accessible side of the castle. In the 19th century, at the time of ], there were also the two strong fortifications of San Fernando and Pilar.<ref>] (1883). ''Google Books''. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> | |||
| The name '''Suda''', from an Arabic word meaning 'enclosed urban area', refers to the 9th-century Moorish fortress, the city's principlal castle.<ref group=note>The term is also used in the name of the ], also known as La Suda de Tortosa, in ], ].</ref> | The name '''Suda''', from an Arabic word meaning 'enclosed urban area', refers to the 9th-century Moorish fortress, the city's principlal castle.<ref group=note>The term is also used in the name of the ], also known as La Suda de Tortosa, in ], ].</ref> | ||
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| ] had, a year prior to the siege, agreed with ], ] on how to divide Lleida once captured. Ermengol would hold La Suda ] and the town itself would be divided between the two counts.<ref name=jaspert/> | ] had, a year prior to the siege, agreed with ], ] on how to divide Lleida once captured. Ermengol would hold La Suda ] and the town itself would be divided between the two counts.<ref name=jaspert/> | ||
| On the other hand, the fort at Gardeny, belonging to Ermengol since capturing it in around 1147, had probably been built by around 1122 under ] during a previous siege on the town. Berenguer likely stayed there in 1149 during his successful seven-month siege. On capturing Lleida that year, he likely invested ] as the ''castà'' (]) of La Suda.<ref name=jaspert>Jaspert, Nikolas (2021). ''Google Books''. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> | On the other hand, the fort at Gardeny, belonging to Ermengol since capturing it in around 1147, had probably been built by around 1122 under ] during a previous siege on the town. Berenguer likely stayed there in 1149 during his successful seven-month siege. On capturing Lleida that year, he likely invested ], the father of ], as the ''castà'' (]) of La Suda.<ref name=jaspert>Jaspert, Nikolas (2021). ''Google Books''. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> | ||
| ==20th century== | ==20th century== | ||
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| ====Siege of Lleida (1644)==== | ====Siege of Lleida (1644)==== | ||
| {{Main|Siege of Lleida (1644)}} | {{Main|Siege of Lleida (1644)}} | ||
| ===Thirty Years War=== | |||
| ====Siege of Lleida (1647)==== | |||
| Lleida was besieged between 12 May and 17 June 1647 by the French, commanded by ]. The siege was lifted due to the imminent arrival of a Spanish relief army.<ref name=collignon>]. , Catalonia, Spain) 41°37ʹ00ʺN 00°37ʹ19ʺE 1647 or later". ''Thirty Years War (1618-48)''.] ]. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> Other French commanders taking part in the siege included the ].<ref name=perelle/> | |||
| =====Views of the siege===== | |||
| ]'s contemporary (after 1647 but before 1687) ] ] of the start of the siege shows, among other details, the ]—containing the castle, the cathedral and the bishop's palace—within the city walls (and Fort Gardeny outside), as well as the ] abandoned just six months before by ] and which the Spanish had failed to destroy.<ref name=collignon/> | |||
| ]'s contemporary (after 1647 but before 1677) middle oblique view shows the strategic position of the citadel and its castle.<ref name=perelle>]. , Catalonia, Spain) 41°37ʹ00ʺN 00°37ʹ19ʺE c.1647 or later". ''Thirty Years War (1618-48)''.] ]. Retrieved 12 January 2025.</ref> | |||
| ===War of the Spanish Succession (1707)=== | ===War of the Spanish Succession (1707)=== | ||
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| ====Siege of Lérida (1707)==== | ====Siege of Lérida (1707)==== | ||
| <!-- {{Main|Siege of Lleida (1707)}} --> | <!-- {{Main|Siege of Lleida (1707)}} --> | ||
| During the siege of Lerida by the ] in 1707, the castle held out for many days after the town had been lost.<ref name=oman3/><ref> ''Google Books''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> | During the siege of Lerida by the ] in 1707, the castle held out for many days after the town had been lost.<ref name=oman3/><ref> ''Google Books''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> The town was garrisoned by the ], which had left Plymouth in February 1706, then numbering 834 men under Lt. Col. Hunt Withers. On 10 September, ] invested the town and on 12 October breached it, the garrison retreating up into the castle where, now reduced to 500 men, it held out until 10 November. After capitulating and marching out under ], with their baggage and two guns, the regiment was no longer of sufficient strength to be a viable fighting unit and its men were drafted into other regiments.<ref>Wheater, W. (1875). ''Google Books''. Retrieved 11 January 2025.</ref> | ||
| ===Peninsular War=== | ===Peninsular War=== | ||
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| Castle of La Suda or the King's Castle | |
|---|---|
| Lleida in Spain | |
.jpg) View of the castle ruins in 2012 | |
| Site history | |
| In use | Late 11th century – 19th century |
| Events | |
The Castle of La Suda, also known as the Castell del Rei , is a fortress overlooking the city of Lleida, Spain. The currently visible Romanesque-Gothic complex, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, when it was used as a royal palace, was built over a 9th-century kasbah andalusí. By the main entrance to the fortified complex, the Puerta del León , are the remains of the Roman wall dating to before 26-16 BC. Successive walls were built over and along it in the 9th to 10th centuries, the 14th century and in the 19th century.
The Court session held there in 1214 is notable for being the occasion on which James I of Aragon, then aged six, was recognised by the Catalans and the Aragonese and crowned King of Aragón. The signing of the Querimonia, by which James II of Aragon granted autonomy to the Aran Valley in 1313, and the Paréages of Andorra (1278 and 1288), which codified the joint sovereignty over the territory of Andorra, also took place at the palace.
Although the castle-palace was declared a national monument in 1931, it continued to be used as a military facility until its demilitarisation in 1941. The palace had been used as a military headquarters during the Reapers' War and remained as such until it was demilitarised. During the War of the Spanish Succession, an explosion in the arsenal destroyed most of the original castle.
It shares the hill with the Old Cathedral of Lleida, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1203, following conquest of the Muslim city of Larida in 1149 by the Catalan counts Ramón Berenguer IV and Ermengol VI. On a neighbouring hill, just over a mile away, there is another fortress, the Romanesque 12th-century Gardeny Castle, built by the Knights Templar, and which defends the only accessible side of the castle. In the 19th century, at the time of Suchet's siege, there were also the two strong fortifications of San Fernando and Pilar.
The name Suda, from an Arabic word meaning 'enclosed urban area', refers to the 9th-century Moorish fortress, the city's principlal castle.
Known origins
Occcupying eight hectares, excavations show that the castle had been occupied by the Hudid dynasty between 1046 and 1092.
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona had, a year prior to the siege, agreed with Ermengol VI, Count of Urgell on how to divide Lleida once captured. Ermengol would hold La Suda in fief and the town itself would be divided between the two counts.
On the other hand, the fort at Gardeny, belonging to Ermengol since capturing it in around 1147, had probably been built by around 1122 under Alfonso the Battler during a previous siege on the town. Berenguer likely stayed there in 1149 during his successful seven-month siege. On capturing Lleida that year, he likely invested Guillem Ramon de Montcada, the father of William I, Viscount of Béarn, as the castà (castellan) of La Suda.
20th century
Although the castle-palace had been declared a national monument in 1931, it continued to be used as a military facility until its demilitarisation in 1941. There had also been attempts since 1886 to declare the Old Cathedral a national monument but, due to the Carlist Wars, the government was more interested in keeping it as part of the city's defences, and it was not until 1918 that it attained that status, although it was not until several years later that it was demilitarised and restorations works could commence. The first archeological excavations of the castle were carried out in the 1980s.
Sieges
Reconquista
Main article: ReconquistaSiege of Lleida (1149)
The castle was besieged by a Catalan army led by Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona from spring to October 1149.
Reapers' War
Main article: Reapers' WarSiege of Lleida (1644)
Main article: Siege of Lleida (1644)Thirty Years War
Siege of Lleida (1647)
Lleida was besieged between 12 May and 17 June 1647 by the French, commanded by Louis II de Bourbon-Condé. The siege was lifted due to the imminent arrival of a Spanish relief army. Other French commanders taking part in the siege included the Duke of Gramont.
Views of the siege
François Collignon's contemporary (after 1647 but before 1687) middle oblique view of the start of the siege shows, among other details, the citadel—containing the castle, the cathedral and the bishop's palace—within the city walls (and Fort Gardeny outside), as well as the lines of circumvallation abandoned just six months before by Harcourt and which the Spanish had failed to destroy.
Gabriel Perelle's contemporary (after 1647 but before 1677) middle oblique view shows the strategic position of the citadel and its castle.
War of the Spanish Succession (1707)
Main article: War of the Spanish SuccessionSiege of Lérida (1707)
During the siege of Lerida by the Duke of Orleans in 1707, the castle held out for many days after the town had been lost. The town was garrisoned by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which had left Plymouth in February 1706, then numbering 834 men under Lt. Col. Hunt Withers. On 10 September, Berwick invested the town and on 12 October breached it, the garrison retreating up into the castle where, now reduced to 500 men, it held out until 10 November. After capitulating and marching out under colours, with their baggage and two guns, the regiment was no longer of sufficient strength to be a viable fighting unit and its men were drafted into other regiments.
Peninsular War
Main article: Peninsular WarSiege of Lérida (1810)
Main article: Siege of Lérida (1810)
At the siege of Lérida (29 April to 13 May 1810), an Imperial French army under Louis Gabriel Suchet besieged a Spanish garrison led by Major General García Conde. On 13 May, García Conde surrendered with his 7,000 surviving soldiers. The capitulation was signed on 14 May by Garcia Conde as principal commandant of the "principal castle of the town", and by Francisco Nunes, as commandant of the Fort Garden of Lerida.
Notes
- The term is also used in the name of the Castle of La Suda, also known as La Suda de Tortosa, in Tortosa, Tarragona.
References
- ^ (in Spanish). "Castillo del Rey/Suda". Turóseuvella. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- (in Spanish). "Muralla Romana". Turóseuvella. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- (in Spanish). "Las Cortes". Turóseuvella. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ (in Spanish). "Castillo del Rey/Suda: Síntesis histórica" Turóseuvella. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- (in Spanish). "Seu Vella: Síntesis Histórica". Turóseuvella. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- Thiers, Adolphe (1883). History of the consulate and the empire of France under Napoleon, Volume 3, pp. 417-419. Claxton. Google Books. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- Arnold Felix (2017). Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean: A History, p. 144 (Table 3.1). Google Books. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Jaspert, Nikolas (2021). "Chapter 2. Bonds and Tensions on the Frontier: the Templars in Twelfth-Century Western Catalonia". IN: Sarnowsky, Jürgen. Mendicants, Military Orders, and Regionalism in Medieval Europe (online edition). Taylor & Francis. Google Books. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- (in Spanish). Remesal Rodríguez, José; Antonio Aguilera; Lluís Pons (2000). Comisión de Antigüedades de la Real Academia de la Historia catálogo e índices. Cataluña, Real Academia de la Historia (Spain). Comisión de Antigüedades, pp. 67-68. Google Books. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Collignon, François. "View of the siege of Lérida, 1647 (Lleida Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Perelle, Gabriel. "View of the siege of Lérida, 1647 (Lleida Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Oman, Charles (1908). A History of the Peninsular War, Vol. III, pp. 300–308. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- The Present State of Europe, Volume 18, 1707, pp. 536-538. H. Rhodes. Google Books. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- Wheater, W. (1875). Historical Record of the Seventh of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, pp. 37-42. Google Books. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- Suchet, Louis-Gabriel (1829). Memoirs of the War in Spain, from 1808 to 1814, Volume 1, p. 360. H. Colburn. Google Books. Retrieved 11 January 2025.