© Mark Wade
| Albarracin © Mark Wade |
Capital of an Arabic emirate. The town itself dates back at least to Visigothic times. The magnificent walled town is 37 km from Teruel at an altitude of 1170 m. The antique stone houses march down the side of the mountain to the Guadalaviar.
The place is a Spanish National Monument. The town was completely rebuilt after the reconquest, so most of the visible structures date from the Renaisance through the 17th Century. In the Cid's time the Moorish Rulers were Banu Razin, Andalusian Berbers of the Hawwara tribe. Their kings ruled from from 1012-1104 and were: Hudayl ibn Jalaf ibn Razin Izz al-Dawla (1012-1044); Abd al-Malik Husam al-Dawla (1044-1103); Yahya Husam al-Dawla (1103-1104); conquered by the Almoravide Murabitun in 1104. Latitude: 40.41621. Longitude: -1.44188.
And he covenanted that King Don Alfonso should also put into his hand Santa Maria de Albarrazin, and the kingdom of Denia; and the King assented to the covenant, thinking that in this manner the land would be all his own.
While he lay there the King of Albarrazin, being in great fear of him, sent to him requesting that they might meet.
The Lord of Albarrazin was to pay ten thousand, according to covenant as you heard heretofore, and the Lord of Alfuente ten thousand, and Monviedro eight thousand, and Segorbe six thousand, and Xerica four thousand, and Almenara three thousand.
One Christian they slew who guarded the gates, and another who was of St. Maria de Albarrazin, who guarded one of the towers of the wall.
So he sent to the Cid to say he would do his pleasure, and he sent also to Abenrazin, the Lord of Albarrazin, saying that he would give him Monviedro and the other Castles in his possession, and bidding him make his terms with the Cid, for as touching himself, he desired to have no dispute, but to come off with his company and his own person in peace.
At this time Abenrazin the Lord of Albarrazin covenanted with the King of Aragon that the King should help him to win Valencia, and he would give him great treasures; and he gave him in pledge a Castle which is called Toalba.
When this was done, he bade his men make ready, and he told them not whither they were to go, and he set forward at night toward Albarrazin, and came to the Fountain.
While the Cid lay before Albarrazin, as he one day rode forth with five of his knights to disport himself, there came twelve knights out of the town, thinking to slay him or take him.
The Cid was then before Albarrazin, doing all the evil that he could, and he brake up his camp and came with his host to Juballa; and Abeniaf and the Alcaydes of Xativa and Carchayra came unto him, and they renewed their covenant to stand by each other, and be of one voice.
And the Bishop, as he was called, of Albarrazin, came to meet him with a great company of knights, being the chiefs of the company of the Cid, and they did great honour unto him, thinking that he would give them something.