history
Latest articles on history in Spain.
The Spanish village that celebrates American Independence Day
A village in Málaga province in southern Spain celebrates the 4th of July every year due to the fascinating story of a local man's role in the American War of Independence.
The one thing to know about each of Spain's 'crazy' kings and queens
Which Spanish king thought he was a frog? Who was a reputed sex addict? Understanding Spanish history can be tough, so we've broken it down into the most important and quirky trivia you need to know about each Spanish king and queen.
Eight Spanish towns and cities that were once capitals
Madrid hasn't always been the capital of Spain. Here are eight towns and cities that at one point in history were the capitals of various kingdoms that today are part of Spain.
How joining the EU 40 years ago catapulted Spain into modernity
Forty years ago to the day an event took place that changed the course of Spanish history: the country signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), as it was known then, now the European Union.
Spain to investigate deaths of thousands of Spaniards in Nazi camps
Spanish prosecutors on Monday said they were investigating whether General Francisco Franco's dictatorship collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II to send thousands of exiled Spaniards in France to death camps.
Western Europe's oldest human face unearthed in Spain
Western Europe has a new oldest face: the facial bones of an adult nicknamed "Pink" discovered in Spain are from a potential new member of the human family who lived more than 1.1 million years ago, Spanish scientists said Wednesday.
Why do Spaniards love to eat sunflower seeds?
Spaniards love to pass the time cracking salted sunflower shells open with their teeth one by one before eating the seeds inside, leaving behind a wet grey mess on the ground at football stadiums or on the street. What’s all this about Spain?
IN DEPTH: Should Gibraltar be British or Spanish?
Gibraltar has been the main sticking point in Spain-UK relations for centuries. Understanding the history and each side's arguments helps to explain why the issue of who ‘The Rock’ should belong to is likely to rage on for many more years.
The small coastal town that was Spain's capital for a day
A small upmarket town on the Cantabrian coastline was the Spanish capital for one day in 1881, changing its future forever.
The towns in Spain where it was illegal to die
When cemeteries were filling up in towns around southern Spain a few years ago, some mayors turned to extreme measures to keep their towns alive.
The sunken treasures in Spanish waters from the conquistador days
There are almost 900 shipwrecks in Spanish waters with countless more gold and silver than the entire Bank of Spain, historians and the navy both agree. So where can these treasures be found?
The 2006 Valencia metro crash you've probably never heard of
A tragic metro crash that killed 43 people in Spain's third city is rarely spoken about or even known by many today, with rumours that it was deliberately brushed under the carpet by officials to avoid being charged with negligence.
Franco-era torture victim hopes to break Spain's 'wall of impunity'
Just months before the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, Julio Pacheco Yepes says he was arrested and tortured by police for belonging to a left-wing underground movement that opposed the regime.
Spain's election raises concerns over fate of Franco victim exhumations
There are fears that the pace of exhumations of victims of the 1936-39 civil war and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco that followed could slow down if the right wins Spain's July 23rd snap election, as polls suggest.
The Scottish roots of Spain's oldest football club
Football is as synonymous with Spanish culture as paella and flamenco, but Spain’s oldest club has its roots in British-run mines. We dig into the history of Recreativo de Huelva, Spain's oldest football club.
Far right and police clash as Spain's fascist leader re-buried
Far-right protesters in Madrid tussled with police Monday as the remains of a fascist party founder were to be re-buried in a simple grave as Spain works to reckon with its authoritarian past.
Spain to relocate remains of fascist party founder
The remains of Spain's fascist Falange party founder Primo de Rivera will be exhumed next week and relocated to a more discreet spot, the government said Thursday.
Groundbreaking discovery sheds light on Spain’s mythical Tartessos civilization
Spain’s National Research Council has presented the incredible findings of an excavation which brings greater understanding of an ancient and enigmatic civilization that emerged in southern Spain several centuries before Christ.
Descendants of International Brigades to get fast-track Spanish nationality
Spain will give the descendants of International Brigade fighters who fought fascism during the Civil War an expressway to Spanish citizenship and dual nationality, with people from the UK, the US and many other countries eligible.
Rare editions of Spain's Don Quixote go up for auction
Two volumes of "Don Quixote", the epic Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes, will go up for auction in Paris, where they are expected to fetch between €400 and €600K combined. Here's the incredible story of how they were unearthed.
Spain's Emperor Charles V's secret code cracked after five centuries
A team of researchers has cracked a five century-old code which reveals a rumoured French plot to kill the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V.
Spain's lawmakers pass bill honouring Franco-era victims
Almost five decades after the death of Francisco Franco, Spanish lawmakers passed a flagship law Wednesday seeking to honour the victims of the 1936-1939 civil war and the ensuing dictatorship.
Spain's Prado probes if artwork was stolen by Franco's regime
Madrid's El Prado Museum said Thursday it was investigating the provenance of 62 works in its collection to determine whether they were seized during Spain's civil war or the Franco dictatorship.