ROMAN & VISIGOTH ERA
Starting in 197 BC, Cordoba served as the capital of the Roman province known as Hispania Ulterior. There was a lot of trade with Rome and the Guadalquivir River allowed easy access to the interior of the province. To deal with trade, a customs house was established on the banks of the river where the Alcazar stands today.
Over time, defensive walls and a castle were built to protect the bridge and the port. Remnants from this early castle were discovered during excavations in 2002 and can be seen in the Patio de las Mujeres.
MOORISH ERA
In 711 AD, southern Spain was invaded by the Muslim Moors of north Africa.
Soon after, the Andalusí Alcazar (or Umayyad Alcazar) was built on top of the foundation of the Roman castle. It was used as a royal residence for several hundred years.
With the construction of the new royal city of Medina Azahara, the royal seat of power moved out from Cordoba’s alcazar but only briefly before the caliphate eventually collapsed.
BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA
Christian forces reconquered Cordoba in 1236. The alcazar was then declared the official residence of the king. Alfonso X started the renovations but it was his son, Alfonso XI, who actually carried out most of the building works.
In the 15th century, the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand & Isabella lived in the alcazar for 10 years. This is why today it is known as the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs). This is the location where they met with Cristopher Columbus (in the Torre del Homenaje) to discuss his trip to India.
Also during their time at the Alcazar de Cordoba, the monarchs organized for the retaking of the Iberian Peninsula. This led to the capture of Granada in 1492 and the expulsion of the Muslims from Spain that soon followed.
Statue of the Catholic Monarchs with Christobal Columbus
© ESPAÑA GUIDE
INQUISITION
The Spanish Inquisition was created by the Catholic Monarchs in 1482 after a papal decree from Pope Sixtus IV. One of its main goals was to curb the Judaizing practices of the Catholic converts. Once the reconquest of Spain had taken place, the Catholic Monarchs turned the alcazar over to the church which converted it into the seat of the Inquisition.
The interior of the alcazar was completely rearranged. The harmonious palatial character of the castle, as it was enjoyed by the previous kings, was turned into a dark and gloomy hellhole. Holding cells for prisoners were built as well as torture chambers.
One of the most horrendous individuals to set foot in the alcazar was the priest Diego Rodríguez Lucero who was named inquisitor of Cordoba in 1499. Besides demolishing houses in the city that he deemed were synagogues, he also tortured his victims and is responsible for burning hundreds of people alive. In just 4 years, he condemned more than 200 people to be burned alive at the stake.
On December 22, 1504, Lucero burned 107 people for being Judaizers in what today is the Corredera Square. Testimony of the event says that “when he burned a hundred and seven men they were shouting to God and the Virgin to forgive them and saying that they never committed the sin of heresy, and called on the scribes to testify that they died as Christian Catholics and in the faith of Jesus Christ.”
Wall of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
© ESPAÑA GUIDE
For several years, many nobles and knights petitioned King Ferdinand to stop Lucero, but their pleas went unheard. It is not known for sure why the king did not put a stop to the cruelty. But what is for sure is that the monarchy was the sole beneficiary of all the assets confiscated during the Inquisition.
On 9 November 1506, the local population, tired of the Inquisition’s cruelty, invaded the alcazar and liberated more than 400 prisoners. Lucero burned his torture devices and fled to Seville on the back of a mule. He was later tried for his false accusations and found guilty by the Grand Inquisitor. But shortly after he was returned to his position as priest in Seville.
MODERN HISTORY
In 1812, after the Inquisition was abolished, the Alcazar became a local jail. In 1931, it was declared a national monument and was used by the military. Finally in 1955, it was transferred to the local government.