Franciscan Friary, Zaragoza facts for kids
Franciscan Friary of Zaragoza
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 Location in Aragon
Location in Spain
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| Monastery information | |
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| Established | 1219 |
| Controlled churches | Franciscan |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Aragonese royal family |
| Site | |
| Location | Zaragoza, Aragon, now Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°39′8.14″N 0°52′54.01″W / 41.6522611°N 0.8816694°W |
| Visible remains | Demolished |
The Franciscan Friary in Zaragoza, Aragon (Spain) was a very important religious building. It was started in 1219. This friary was quite grand for a Franciscan community. It received a lot of help from the royal family of Aragon. Many members of the Aragon royal family were buried in its beautiful church.
History of the Friary
The friary was founded by Prince Peter of Aragon in 1219. Sadly, it was almost completely destroyed during the Napoleonic French invasion. This happened during the French sieges of Zaragoza.
The church itself was very impressive. It had a single main area that was about 246 feet long and 75 feet wide.
Here's how the friary began:
- In 1219, just eleven years after the Franciscan order was created, Saint Francis of Assisi's followers arrived in Zaragoza.
- They first stayed in a building that later belonged to the Augustinians.
- In 1280, they moved into their new home. Prince Peter helped start this new building.
- The building was finished in 1357 with help from King Pedro IV of Aragon. He even gave them his orchard.
- The church's long construction was finally completed in 1399.
This friary was very important for the Franciscan order in Aragon. It was a spiritual center that helped many other friaries in Spain.
Some religious people from this Zaragoza friary went on to found the first Observant friary in Manzanera in 1378. These were Friar Raimundo Sanz, Friar Sancho de Fababuj, and Friar Antonio Monrós.
Damage and Demolition
The Napoleonic French invasion in 1808 severely damaged the friary. An old drawing shows that the church's tall, three-story Mudéjar tower was still standing. This tower showed the church's main area and its side chapels. The drawing also showed the friary's main gate with three Mudéjar turrets.
However, the French troops caused even more damage. They used mines to break the siege, which made the destruction much worse.
After the war, a new friary was built from the ruins. It lasted until 1835. The famous arch of the choir was saved, which the French left as a reminder of what had been there. The friars also used a grand inner hall as a church after the war.
Unfortunately, in 1835, a leader named Juan Álvarez Mendizábal ordered the friary to be closed. Its parts were then sold off to different people.
The Church and its Tombs
This amazing church held the tombs of some very important people.
- The generous founder, Prince Peter of Aragon, was buried here. He was the son of King Peter III "The Great" and the brother of King James II "The Just". Prince Peter died young in 1296 while fighting in Castile.
- Queen Teresa d'Entença was also buried in the church. She was the first wife of King Alfonso IV "The Nice". She was also the mother of Peter IV "The Ceremonious". Her young children, Isabel and Sancho, who died as babies, were buried next to her.
Queen Teresa died in 1327 while giving birth to her son Sancho. She was buried next to the chancel (the area around the altar). Her mausoleum (a grand tomb) was made of marble. It was held up by six lion statues. Her statue on the tomb showed her dressed as a religious person. There were also figures crying around the tomb. The tombs of her children were painted on wood. Princess Isabel was shown dressed as a Clare nun, and Prince Sancho had a garland and loose hair.
Later, the bodies of two other important figures, Bernaldo de Cabrera and Juan de Lanuza, were moved to the friary's church. They had been buried under the Arc of Toledo.
See also
- In Spanish: Convento de San Francisco (Zaragoza) para niños
