Madrid's Royal Palace: A palace, almost consumed by its own past

The Royal Palace of Madrid, situated in Plaza de la Armería, Madrid, is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. Its history is as tempestuous as the city that encircles it. The palace has been ravaged by fire, invaded, and plundered. However, one incident echoes in its pillars - the great fire of 1734. This catastrophic event engulfed the palace's archive, leaving a perplexing void in its chronicles. Through external sources, we can reconstruct the story of a palace that flirted with the brink of being swallowed by its past own history.

The current Royal Palace was reborn from the ashes of an earlier construction, erected by Henry III of Castile in the 15th century. Over the centuries, it served as both a defensive castle and a royal abode for various Spanish monarchs. In the 17th century, it transformed into the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family.

Yet, in 1734, calamity struck. A fire sparked in the palace, engulfing it for days, annihilating much of the palace's archive and numerous rooms. The palace was left in ruins until 1755, when it was rebuilt under the orders of King Philip V.

The fire was a crushing blow to the palace, but it was not the sole one. In the ensuing years, the palace was subjected to repeated looting by invading armies. The palace's archives vanished, and many of its rooms were destroyed or remodeled beyond recognition.

Despite this, the palace remains one of the most impressive buildings in Madrid. It is a testament to the Spanish monarchy's power and wealth, and a reminder of the often tumultuous history that sculpted this grand city.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons