Ciutadella de Roses facts for kids
The Ciutadella de Roses (which means "Citadel of Roses") is an old, ruined fortress in the town of Roses, in Catalonia, Spain. It's a really important historical site. Near the citadel, you can find other cool buildings like the Castell de la Trinitat and the Santa Maria de Roses monastery. This monastery is special because it's one of the oldest examples of a certain building style called Lombard architecture in Spain. The current citadel was ordered to be built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1543. He wanted it to protect the area from pirate attacks and from the French army.
History of the Citadel
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The story of the Ciutadella begins a very long time ago, around the 4th century BC. At that time, Greek traders from a city called Massalia (which is now Marseille in France) set up a trading post in the Gulf of Roses. They needed to protect their new settlement from the local people, the Iberians. As the trading post grew, they even started making their own coins! These coins had a picture of a goddess named Arethusa on one side and a rose on the other.
Later, in the early 2nd century BC, the Romans arrived. After some big wars, a Roman leader named Marcus Porcius Cato took control of the city in the late 3rd century BC. The Romans then set up their own town there. This Roman town lasted for many centuries, almost until the end of the Roman Empire. Around the 1st century AD, Roses became an important town. They built a temple for the goddess Minerva inside the fortress walls. Another temple for the goddess Venus was built in the nearby mountains.
In the 7th century, a group called the Visigoths built a fort on one of the Puig Rom peaks. This fort was used until the early 8th century. After a short time when Arabs controlled the area, Roses came under the rule of the Franks. This was part of the county of Empúries. In 960, Benedictine monks founded the Monastery of Santa Maria. It quickly became a very important abbey and even had its own fishing rights. The name "Roses" for the settlement wasn't used until 1362.
As Roses became more important for trade and as a military spot, it needed more protection. It faced attacks from Muslim pirates and from the French army. In 1285, the French took over Roses and burned it down. But then, Roger of Lauria, who led the Aragonese fleet, defeated the French navy in the bay. This helped to free the town. To protect the town better, new walls were built in 1402. These walls were meant to stop pirate attacks from the sea and French invasions by land.
When the Habsburg Empire was created, the Port of Roses became a key place. It was a vital link between the Spanish and Italian parts of the empire. Because of its importance, Charles V ordered the construction of the Citadel of Roses in 1552. This citadel was meant to be the main defense for the entire gulf area.
Sadly, in 1588, a widespread sickness caused the monks to leave their home at the Monastery of Roses. By 1592, the monastery was officially joined with another one, Santa Maria de Amer, by order of the Pope. Finally, in 1792, the few remaining people in the monastery left it for good. The very next year, French troops destroyed the monastery.
Gallery
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Medieval wall towers -
El "Cossi de la Reina" -
Sea Gate -
Inside view
See also
In Spanish: Ciudadela de Rosas para niños
