Monument to General Martínez Campos facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°25′04″N 3°40′51″W / 40.417806°N 3.680936°W |
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| Location | El Retiro, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | Mariano Benlliure |
| Material | Bronze, limestone, marble |
| Opening date | 28 January 1907 |
| Dedicated to | Arsenio Martínez Campos |
The Monument to General Martínez Campos is a famous statue in Madrid, Spain. It was designed by Mariano Benlliure. The monument features a large statue of General Arsenio Martínez Campos on horseback.
General Martínez Campos was very important in bringing back the royal family (the Bourbons) to power in Spain. He did this by leading a special military action in 1874. The monument is located in the center of Plaza de Guatemala, inside El Retiro.
Contents
Building the Monument
How the Idea Started
For a while, some people tried to get a monument built for General Martínez Campos. However, their efforts didn't work out at first.
Later, in 1904, a person named the Marquis of Cabriñana started the idea again. He organized a way for people to donate money to build the monument. Many military officers joined in and helped.
Choosing the Designer
The job of designing the monument was given to Mariano Benlliure. He was a well-known artist.
In 1905, a special group was formed to manage the monument project. General Primo de Rivera was the leader of this group. Benlliure worked on this monument at the same time he was working on another big project, the Castelar's monument.
What the Monument Looks Like
The Base and Rock
The monument stands on a base made of white marble. This base has four steps leading up to it.
On top of the marble base is a rough, natural-looking rock. This rock is made of limestone from a place called Tamajón. It looks like a natural part of the landscape.
Special Decorations and Messages
On the front of the monument, there is a bronze war trophy. It shows two flags, one for cavalry (soldiers on horses) and one for infantry (soldiers on foot). There are also other wartime items.
Above these items, an inscription is carved into the limestone. It says: "to General Martínez Campos, model of patriots and soldiers, Spain."
On the right side of the rock, there are inscriptions listing important military dates. These include "Cuba 1869-1870-1872, 1878-1895," "Cataluña 1873-1875," and "Norte 1874-1876."
Battle Scene and Other Plaques
A carving in the limestone rock shows a scene from the battle of Castillejos. This carving goes across the left and back sides of the rock. Below it, in the marble, it says "Africa 1859–1860."
On the right and back sides of the monument, there are two more plaques. One says: "erected by voluntary national subscription, initiated on 5 December 1904 by the Marquis of Cabriñana." The other plaque says: "inaugurated by His Majesty King Alfonso XIII, 28 January 1907."
The General's Statue
The very top of the monument features a bronze statue of General Martínez Campos on his horse. This statue was made in Barcelona by a company called Masriera & Campins' foundry.
Unveiling and Recognition
The monument was officially revealed on January 28, 1907. Important people attended the ceremony, including King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie.
In 2013, the Community of Madrid declared the monument a bien de interés cultural. This means it is a protected cultural landmark.
Images for kids
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View of the left-hand side
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Closer look of the general
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Detail of the war trophy
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See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Arsenio Martínez Campos para niños
