Blanca (Murcia)

Blanca municipality
View of Blanca
coat of arms	Map of Spain
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Murcia
Province :	Murcia
Comarca :	Vega Alta del Segura
Coordinates	38 ° 11 ′  N , 1 ° 23 ′  W Coordinates: 38 ° 11 ′  N , 1 ° 23 ′  W
Height :	152  msnm
Area :	87.32 km²
Residents :	6,539 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density :	74.89 inhabitants / km²
Postal code :	30540
Municipality number  ( INE ):	30011
Nearest airport :	Murcia-San Javier
administration
Mayor :	Ester Hortelano Ortega PP
Address of the municipal administration:	C / Anguillara Sabazia, 7, 30540 Blanca, Murcia, Tel .: [phone]
Website :	blanca.es
Location of the municipality

Blanca is a municipality in the Spanish region of Murcia in the comarca of Vega Alta del Segura . Blanca has an area of ​​87.3 km² and 6539 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019)

location

The municipality of Blanca borders on:

Ricote	Abaran	Abaran
Ricote		Fortuna
Ulea	Ulea	Ojos

history

Until 1492

Several settlements of the Iberians and Celtiberians near Bolbax , Cieza and Cabeza del Tio Pio in Archena as well as the Roman settlement Salto de la Novia in Ojos show a settlement between the 5th and 7th centuries

The first evidence is the remains of the castle from the 11th and 12th centuries. Blanca was called "Negra", which means black , the name probably refers to the black color of the castle hill. The castle was built between 1155 and 1171 by the first king of Murcia, Mohammed Ibn Mardanis , known as "King Wolf". During this time there were two major Almohad campaigns , but also an economic boom. The Murcia region and thus also Blanca flourished for the first time with the cultivation and trade of grain, grapevines, olives and the production and export of shiny metallic ceramics to Italian republics. The golden dinar , minted in Madine Mursiyya’s own mint , was the common currency here. The construction of the castle of Blanca was intended to improve control over the Vega Alta and the Ricote Valley and to increase the security of the kingdom.

The historical connection with the Moorish Ricote Valley can be traced back to the year 1228 with an uprising under the leadership of Ibn Hud from Ricote against the Almohads . After his death, ten years later, anarchy and lawlessness reigned in the Kingdom of Murcia . The consequence was that the then Muslim government was forced to sign the Alcaraz Pact with Castile , on condition that it subordinate itself to the Crown as a protectorate. In return for their loyalty to the King of Castile, Muslims were promised respect for their possessions and traditions. Under Alfonso X . Several agreements of the Alcaraz Pact were not kept and between 1264 and 1266 there was a revolt of the Muslims. After the rebellion was put down, Ricote was placed under the jurisdiction of the city of Murcia.

Side view of the castle, twelfth century

After the death of the eldest son and heir, Ferdinand de la Cerda , the dispute over the succession to the throne of Castile began between the children of Fernando, the Infante de la Cerda and the uncle, the Infante Don Sancho. In a document dated March 25, 1281, the future Sancho IV promised the Santiagoorden , as a reward, the endowment of the Ricote Valley including Negra (Blanca) for their help in the fight for the crown. This is the first time that the name Negra has been mentioned in a document: "----- that only God will let me rule in time and you will rule the Ricote Valley with Negra, Abaran, Ojos and Puerto de la Losilla with all lands ----- ". After his proclamation as king, in Seville on November 19, 1285, he kept his promise.

There was no lasting peace after Jacob II (Aragón) attacked the Kingdom of Murcia in 1296, as compensation for his help to the rival, dmr Infante de la Cerda, in the struggle for the succession to the throne against his uncle. During this occupation, Negra and its castle were handed over to the advisor Bernando de Sarria, although the commander of Ricotes and the Order of Santiago claimed ownership. After the peace, Juan Osores , the commander of the Order of Santiago, got the castle of Blanca back on November 19, 1304. The last time the name Negra was mentioned was in a document in 1315. The transition from Negra to Blanca probably happened between 1353 and 1362 through the influence of Blanca de Borbon Queen of Castile, who was abandoned by Pedro I , but was defended by Don Frederik, Grand Master of the Order of Santiago and Sancho Sanchez de Moscoso, commanding officer of Ricote. It was not until 1382 that the name Blanca appeared for the first time in a document in which the governor of the Kingdom of Murcia, Martin Alonso de Valdivieso, asked the administration of Murcia, through Count de Carriòn, to set a Moor from Blanca free. The Moor was arrested at the request of a Jew.

The rule of Blanca and the Ricote Valley by the Order of Santiago lasted until the nineteenth century. During the first years of rule, the Muslims of the Ricota Valley were converted to Christianity. The uniform royal land allocation in the Ricote Valley increased the yields and productivity of agriculture. Military actions throughout the Ricote Valley have also been better coordinated. This did not prevent the Moorish population from being affected by military instability in the mid-fifteenth century. This was the reason that Blanca's troops marched with the troops of the future King of Granada against the Emirate of Granada after their troops had invaded the Kingdom of Murcia. After claiming and granting tax advantages, the troops returned to Blanca. After a bloody sack of Cieza in 1477 by the troops of Granada, the troops of Blanca marched again against the emirate. They did not return until 1492 after the conquest of the new kingdom of Granada .

Parish Church of Saint John the Evangelist, 16th century

From 1492

Under the leadership of the Catholic kings Ferdinand and Isabella, the Jews were expelled and all Muslims were forcibly converted to Christianity. The baptized Muslims were called Moriske . From 1507 the mosques were converted into churches. After their conversion to Christianity, the Muslim population expected tax relief, which was never granted, which in 1571 resulted in a violent uprising that was brutally suppressed.

In the 16th century there was a significant increase in population, especially near the Segura. On August 10, 1591, Blanca was able to buy the privilege of " Villazgo " from King Philip II . For the proud sum of 2400 ducats, the village was given the privilege of electing a mayor and councilor itself. The upswing and population increase turned into the opposite. The expulsion of the Moors, as a result of a 1613 by Philip III. enacted law, drove the agriculture of Blanca into ruin due to the forced loss of manpower, even if a large part of the displaced came back in the following 15 years. Miguel de Cervantes wrote about it in detail in the figure of "El Morisco Ricote" . In the eighteenth century, Blanca began to recover from population loss, growing from 700 inhabitants in 1713 to 1378 in the Floridablanca census of 1786. The revival came largely from income from fruit growing and the rental of pasture land for nomadic migrating cattle. At the beginning of the 16th century, the church, which was consecrated to John the Evangelist, was rebuilt by the stonemason brothers Lucas and Antonio de la Lastra. Antonio died in Blanca in 1696. After the War of Independence (1808–1814) , in 1819 the privilege of Blanca was ratified by King Fernando VII. Nine years later, the Kingdom of Murcia was ravaged by yellow fever and Blanca was chosen by the Chapter of the Cathedral of Murcia as a refuge because, according to tradition, Blanca was the disease should be spared. After the population turned to Saint Roque with a prayer, Blanca was spared the disease and Saint Roque was named Blanca's patron saint . Once freed from control by the Santiagoorden in 1851 and after the revolutionary developments and the restoration of the monarchy by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo ( Alfonso XII ), Blanca was better able to cope with the new century compared to some of the nearby villages. In 1856 a new bridge was completed over the Río Segura and in 1869 the overland route from Blanca to the train station was completed. Street lighting was installed in 1894. In 1894, Blanca was hit by several landslides and several buildings were destroyed. The hospital and poor house were also affected. The landscape had completely changed, and new houses and roads were being built as a result.

In the twentieth century, the same turbulent political and social developments occurred in Blanca as in the entire region. The Second Republic was proclaimed in 1931. In the 1933 elections, the conservative parties united in the Spanish Alliance (CEDA) won. The left parties did not have to wait for a response. They stimulated the creation of trade unions and social organizations. In 1934 a general strike was called in Murcia with violent demonstrations across the region. They were even forced to declare a state of emergency in Cieza and several people died in the village of Alguazas. The 1936 elections were won by a coalition of left-wing parties (Popular Front), which caused violent confrontations. This situation was the prelude to the civil war on July 17, 1936, triggered by a coup by sections of the army. As in the whole of Spain, there were sporadic riots with attacks on monasteries and churches. In Blanca, the La Milagrosa monastery and the parish church of Saint John the Evangelist have been targeted. As a result of the violence, Blanca lost a considerable amount of religious art, especially statues. A Salzillo-style masterpiece by Sanchez Tapia, "Christ Tied to a Pillar", was saved. Despite the decision for the republic, there were few military operations in the Murcia region, with the exception of sporadic bombardments of the ports of Cartagena and Aguilas. In March 1939, Franco's nationalist forces occupied all of Murcia.

From a demographic point of view, the twentieth century was a period of stagnation for Blanca. A century earlier, Blanca had around 6,000 inhabitants and had remained almost the same in the twentieth century. At the moment, immigration is essential to maintain or increase the population. This is not surprising given that the economy in Blanca at the beginning of the twentieth century relied entirely on agriculture, esparto grass (10) and the sale of timber. The esparto grass has gradually disappeared with the rise of synthetic fibers. The closings of the canning factories in the 1970s and the loss of timber activities should also be mentioned as incidental circumstances. As a result, young residents were and are forced to find work elsewhere, because practically nobody wants to work in agriculture anymore. Only fruit and wine growing received an important impetus from the diversion of the Tajo-Segura Canal . But the residents of Blanca resist adversity and adversity. Together they fight for a better future with prospects and growth and also take initiative with cultural programs and international artists.

politics

Historical development in the Council of Blanca

Political party	2015		2011
	Be right %	Seats	Be right %	Seats
PP	*	*	56.21%	8th
PSOE	*	*	31.49%	4th
CDL.	*	*	9.72%	1

Source: Spanish Ministry of the Interior

Population development of the municipality

Source: INE archive - graphic processing for Wikipedia

Attractions

• Church of Saint John the Evangelist (16th century)
• Arab castle from the twelfth century
• Peña Negra (black volcanic rock with old village)
• Blanca Museum and Art Center (MUCAB), an international architectural landmark
• Church of Saint John the Evangelist (18th century)
• Pedro Cano Foundation
• Saint Roque Chapel (Baroque)
• Interpretation center about water and light
• Chapel of Saint Peter
• "Nuñez Miguelico" giant water wheel
• Country house "La Favorita"
• Hiking trails along the Segura River

employment

• Sankt Roque industrial area
• Angel Prieto Oliva industrial area

traffic

The main connection near Blanca is the A-30 motorway from Albacete to Murcia . Work is currently underway on the A-33 motorway between Blanca and Fuente la Higuera , which will improve the connection with Valencia .

From Murcia, Blanca can be reached via the A30 exit 111 towards Blanca, but not via the Blanca train station, which is about eight kilometers from Blanca.

From Madrid via exit 110 of the A-30 or N-301. From Valencia via the A-33 exit or the N-344.

The Chinchilla-Cartagena railway line touches the municipality of Blancas, but there is no longer any stop.

Important events

• Holy Week

As in all of Spain, Holy Week is celebrated with deeply felt religiosity and impressive passion and the brotherhoods walk through the streets in processions. There are currently eight brotherhoods, five older and three younger. The youngest brotherhood, "Prayer in the Garden", was founded in 1989 after taking part in the procession for the first time on Good Friday 1986 with the saint figure "Maid of Sorrows". It is worth mentioning the tradition in Blanca of bidding on the figures of saints, showing the people's deeply religious feelings. You pay to carry the heavy weight of the stretcher with selected figures of saints on your shoulders.

• Fair in August

In August Blanca celebrates its summer festivals and again in honor of the patron saint Saint Roque. Here the stage changes and the bulls are the main characters. The bull race is officially a regional tourist event of importance and certainly the most important holiday of Blanca. The bull race through the streets of Blanca has more than three centuries of tradition and is unique in the province of Murcia. Even in the early morning there is dancing and singing and bands pulling through the streets. The fair always takes place before August 15th. Life and traditions have been well described by Angel Rios, 11, the second chronicle historian of Blanca.

• Spring festivals

After Holy Week, the spring festivals in honor of the patron saint Saint Roque begin, which last a week. The most characteristic events are the coronation of the spring queen and a pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, the holy figure of Saint Roque is carried on a stretcher on the shoulders through the village towards the Ermitage. The route starts at the church in the center of the village and ends outside Blanca at the Hermitage, consecrated to Saint Roque. During the day they celebrate there and only in the late afternoon do they return to Blanca with the statue of the saint, where Saint Roque is caught up with cheers and fireworks.

• Winter festivals

During the Christmas season you can visit several monumental nativity scenes in Blanca. One of the most important Christmas cribs can be admired in the exhibition room of the Cajamurcia. Another private nativity scene worth seeing can be seen at the train station, about eight kilometers from Blanca.

safety

• Headquarters of the Guardia Civil Zone 5: Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia - Blanca site
• Civil Guard Service of Blanca SEPRONA
• Local policy
• Civil defense
• District Court (Juzgado de Paz)

Town twinning

• Anguillara Sabazia , Italy

bibliography

• Ángel Ríos Martínez: Blanca, una página de su historia: Epoca mora. 1999.
• Govert Westerveld: Doña Blanca y Don Fadrique (1333-1361) y el cambio de Negra (Murcia) a Blanca. 2005, ISBN 84-612-6039-2 .
• Govert Westerveld: Historia de Blanca, lugar más islamizado de la región murciana, años 711-1700. 1997, ISBN 84-923151-0-5 . (With a foreword by Juan Torres Fontes, University of Murcia)
• Angel Ríos Martínez: Blanca, a página de su historia: La Parroquia. 1997, ISBN 84-923424-0-4 .
• Fraile Marcos de Guadalajar: Prodición y destierro de los moriscos de Castilla, hasta el Valle de Ricote. 1614.
• Govert Westerveld: Blanca, "El Ricote" de Don Quixote: expulsión y regreso de los moriscos del último enclave islámico más grande de España, años 1613–1654. 2002, ISBN 84-923151-1-3 . (With a foreword by Francisco Márquez Villanueva , Harvard University, USA)
• Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra: Don Quixote de la Mancha. Volume II, 1615, chapters 54, 55, 63, 64 and 65.
• Govert Westerveld: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Ana Félix y el morisco Ricote del Valle de Ricote en "Don Quijote II" del año 1615. 2007, ISBN 978-84-923151-5-4 , chapters 54, 55, 63, 64 and 65. (Dedicated to Francisco Márquez Villanueva)
• Francisco Marquez Villanueva: Moros moriscos y turcos de Cervantes. Bellaterra 2010, ISBN 978-84-7290-498-9 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero . Population statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (population update).
2. ↑ Boletin Oficial de la Region de Murcia
3. ^ Elecciones locales 2011. Spanish Ministry of the Interior, accessed June 24, 2018 (Spanish). 

Web links

Commons : Blanca  - collection of images, videos and audio files