| Guadalajara |
Ancient major town, 126 km from Toledo, historically reconquered by Alvar Fanez Minaya in 1085.
Dating back to its pre-Roman origins as Arriaca, the town was renamed Guadalajar (stony river) by the Muslims. It reached its greatest splendor in the 16th and 17th Centuries, eliminating most of the town of the Cid's day. The only echo is the towers of Alamin and Alvar Fanez, remants of the ancient walled precinct in replacement of the Arab walls. Latitude: 40.64. Longitude: -3.17.
And the Cid followed them to Atienza, and to Ciguenza, and Fita, and Guadalajara, and through the whole land of St. Esteban, as far as Toledo, slaying and burning, and plundering and destroying, and laying hands on all whom he found, so that he brought back seven thousand prisoners, men and women; and he and all his people returned rich and with great honour.
And Alvar Fanez said unto the Cid, that he would take with him two hundred horsemen, and scour the country as far as Fita and Guadalajara and Alcala, and lay hands on whatever he could find, without fear either of King Alfonso or of the Moors.
And the Cid divided the spoil among the knights and foot-soldiers, to each his due portion; to every horseman a hundred marks of silver, and half as much to the foot-soldiers: and because he could find none to whom to sell his fifth, he spake to the Moors of Castrejon, and sent to those of Fita and Guadalajara, telling them that they might come safely to purchase the spoil, and the prisoners also whom he had taken, both men prisoners and women, for he would have none with him.