Picture this: a vast expanse of land stretching across the northern reaches of present-day Madrid. This is the Sexmo de Manzanares a historical territory once a bone of contention between Segovia and Madrid. We stand on the very ground where this ancient administrative division once held sway.
The Sexmo de Manzanares was no ordinary district. Its story begins in the 13th century after the recapture of Madrid and Toledo. Segovian shepherds founded the village of Manzanares. The name appears in documents from 1248 during the reign of Fernando III El Santo. The area was contested between Segovia and Madrid. King Alfonso X however cleverly annexed the Sexmo de Manzanares in 1268. He established Manzanares as the head of the Real de Manzanares a region comprising 46 settlements.
For centuries the Sexmo de Manzanares remained in the hands of families loyal to the crown. A fascinating twist arrived in 1337. Juan de la Cerda exchanged the town of Huelva for Manzanares with Doña Leonor de Guzmán. She was the mistress of King Alfonso XI and mother of the powerful Trastámara Dynasty. This exchange significantly altered the political landscape of the Sexmo.
An intriguing detail about the Sexmo’s history concerns its Old Castle. Some researchers believe it originated around 1346 when King Alfonso XI sent carpenters to Manzanares to prepare the palaces. The exact construction date remains uncertain. However we know a palatial building existed in Manzanares at that time.
The Mendoza family’s influence on the Sexmo de Manzanares is especially notable. In 1383 King Juan I granted half of the Lordship to Pedro González de Mendoza his tutor. This was a reward for saving the king’s life in the Battle of Aljubarrota. A year later the Lordship primogeniture passed to his son Diego Hurtado de Mendoza. He became the Admiral of the Castilian fleet. Building a castle became common practice upon receiving a Lordship. Some authors attribute the construction of the Old Castle to Diego. It served as a secure place to store taxes from the Segovian Royal Glen. The taxes were levied on cattle travelers and merchants crossing the bridge.
The Sexmo de Manzanares story isn’t just about battles and land ownership. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of a unique area once controlled by Segovia. Later it became part of the Kingdom of Castile and finally a part of Madrid. It played a crucial role in shaping the region’s history. It remains a fascinating piece of Spanish history. The area’s influence continues to echo through the many villages and towns within its ancient borders.