Witnessing History: Alcalá de Henares' Tower and the Treaty of 1308

Alcalá de Henares, a community in Madrid, Spain, is home to the Archiepiscopal Palace, a complex that dates back to 1209. In 1308, two kings, Ferdinand IV of Castile and James II of Aragon, met there to sign the Treaty of Alcalá de Henares, an agreement that outlined the distribution of lands obtained from the Al-Andalusian Taifas during the Reconquista. Today, a specific tower within this palace houses the treaty. Visitors can also view the actual treaty signed in 1308 in this unspecified tower.

Over the centuries, the Archbishop’s Palace underwent various constructions and rehabilitations, with a significant restoration taking place in the 19th century. The palace served as a temporary residence for the Archbishops of Toledo and various Castilian monarchs. Today, the palace is the seat of the Bishopric of Alcalá de Henares and the residence of the bishop. The fire in 1939 destroyed much of the palace, including the Central General Archive which was housed there at the time. The Archbishop’s Palace currently has 16 towers, with the Tower of Tenorio being a highlight.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons