Nájera .
NÁJERA
The very Noble and very Loyal City of Nájera by privilege of King Henry IV granted the year 1454, has a rich and long history. The findings and archaeological studies indicate a dense prehistoric occupation in the hills bordering the current city and located in the municipality, from the Bronze Age.
During the Iron Age, a continuous process of concentration of the population, which will lead to the emergence of more complex towns composed of rectangular houses partially excavated in the rock can be seen. These Celtiberian villages are Roman conquerors, correspond to the berones settlers.
In the Roman period, the current Najera was part of Tritium Magallum (Tricio), a village two kilometers, which found abundant pottery and remains of Terra sigilata (Tritium Magallun is according to historians one of the most important enclaves of Roman period)
Under Muslim rule the Castillo de la Mota, a castle refuge in the top of the hill overlooking Najera got up, and that in the coming years will be crucial place in the control of La Rioja Alta and the Christian frontier.
The city of Nájera Arabs give the name of “Náxara” (Place between rocks or Place at noon) and his Nalia River Náxarilla called him.
Since the beginning of the tenth century Najera mentioned in the stories about the continuing struggles between Moors and Christians.
Kingdom of Nájera – Pamplona, 923-1076:
In 923 the king Sancho Garcés I of Pamplona, in collaboration with Ordoño II of León, recovers Nájera and the Middle and Upper Rioja, leaving under the control of his son Garcia Sanchez under the name Kingdom of Nájera.
After the destruction of Pamplona by Rahman III in 924 and the death of his father the following year, Garcia Sanchez moved his residence to Najera. It is called since then king of Nájera-Pamplona.
Garcia Sanchez developed an active policy of repopulation of new territories and favored with generous donations to monasteries in the area, especially San Millan.
The same policy will remain in the early years Sancho Garcés II (970-994), but the campaigns of Almanzor force him, like his son García Sánchez II Temblón (994-1004) to sign capitulations and pay tribute to Cordoba .
Sancho III el Mayor (1004 – 1035) the Kingdom of Nájera reaches its greatest extent, covering much of the northern third of the peninsula from Catalonia to Cantabria. Sancho III was the great promoter of the city of Najera, where he celebrated Cortes and gave the famous jurisdiction of Nájera, origin of Navarre basis of national legislation and law. He favored pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, establishing shelters and hospitals, and turning the city of Najera key point of the pilgrimage route of Camino de Santiago.
After the death of Sancho III his empire among his sons García Sánchez III of Navarre, Fernando I of Castile, Ramiro I of Aragon and Gonzalo Sanchez is distributed, becoming Nájera cradle of the kingdoms of Navarre, Castile and Aragon, corresponding to the firstborn, García Sánchez III (1035 – 1054), Najera called being born and being buried in the city, the patrimonial territories of Nájera and Pamplona, as well as political hegemony over others.
Najera Garcia extended his domains by conquering Calahorra Rioja Baja Taifa of Zaragoza, founded the Monastery of Santa María la Real as episcopal see. He also created the knighthood Pitcher or Terrace, the first between the peninsular Christian kingdoms, and favored the monastic desks of San Millán, Nájera and Albelda. He died in the Battle of Atapuerca (Burgos) in battle against his brother Fernando I of Castile, in September 1054.
Sancho IV happens Peñalén (1054- 1076), culminating works of Santa María la Real. Kingdom Sancho Ramírez, faced the annexationist attempts by the king of Castile.
In 1067 the monastery celebrated in the council at which replacement remembers Mozarabic rite by Roman.
In June 1076, Sancho IV is a victim of a political conspiracy hatched by his brothers, when distracted in a hunt. His brother Ramon precipitated him into space from a ravine. Conflicts caused by this event lead to the division of the kingdom. Navarre part was annexed to the Kingdom of Aragon.
In 1113 Alfonso the Battler replaces Diego Lopez I of Haro tenure Najera (then, the main town in the current region of La Rioja) and names in place Fortun Garces Cajal, one of the most loyal magnates Aragonese king, who held the lordship of La Rioja to 1134
After the death of Battler, Nájera, Calahorra and other border areas they were incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile by Alfonso VI of León, claiming inheritance rights. It thus puts an end to the Kingdom of Nájera.
Najera City continued to play an important role in the Spanish political and economic life and was the scene of remarkable events.