Prehistory and Classical Age The earliest evidence of continuous human occupation in the area of Monzón comes from
Neolithic archaeological remains found at the Sosiles Altos and Peña Lucas sites. Most traces of settlement date from the
Bronze Age, when it is believed that the
Ilergetes inhabited the area between the rivers
Cinca,
Sosa, and Clamor. The defeat of the Ilergetes in the 3rd century BC led to the Romanization of the area from the 2nd century BC onwards. Monzón became an important junction connecting the cities of
Caesaraugusta and
Osca with
Italy. Remains of Roman dwellings have been discovered in the hills and caves near the
Ermita de la Alegría (Shrine of Joy).
Middle Ages Muslim Era During the period of Muslim rule, Monzón was disputed between the
Banu Sabrit of Huesca and the
Banu Qasi of Zaragoza. In the 11th century it came under the control of the
Banu Hud and was taken by
El Cid in 1083. The Christian kingdoms sought to capture Monzón in order to disrupt communications between the
taifa kingdoms of
Zaragoza and
Lleida. The infante
Peter I reconquered Monzón in 1089 during the reign of his father,
Sancho Ramírez. Sancho Ramírez created the so-called Kingdom of Monzón for his son Peter, before he ascended the throne of Aragon. This arrangement lasted until 1126, when Monzón briefly returned to Muslim control. Between 1130 and 1136 it was held by Christians, who lost it again between 1136 and 1141, before regaining permanent control. In 1143 the town came under the control of the
Knights Templar.
Christian Era . The
Cathedral of Santa María del Romeral (
Saint Mary of the Rosemary Field) developed from the 9th-century
Torre del Homenaje, which hosted kings and nobles. In 1109,
Urraca of Castile married her second husband,
Alfonso I ("the Battler"), at Monzón despite objections from the Church concerning consanguinity. During the Middle Ages Monzón became an important stronghold of the
Knights Templar due to its strategic position between the Segre and
Cinca valleys. It also served as a prominent venue for the
Cortes of Aragon, particularly between the 13th and 17th centuries, due to its location between
Zaragoza and
Barcelona. The
Teutonic Knights also maintained a commandery in Monzón from 1222. In the 12th century Monzón was governed at various times by the infante
Ramiro Sánchez of Navarre, by Tizón, and by
García Ramírez, before García's accession as
King of Navarre. In 1143 the
Knights Templar transferred their rights to the
Crown of Aragon in exchange for possession of the
Castle of Monzón and other properties, where the crown later established one of its main centres of power. A significant event of this period was the residence of
James I ("the Conqueror") in Monzón. After the death of his father,
Peter II ("the Catholic"), at the
Battle of Muret (1213), the Knights Templar of Monzón acted as guardians and tutors to the young king. When
Pope Clement V dissolved the order in the early 14th century, Monzón resisted, but the castle was taken in 1309. In 1317 it passed to the
Knights Hospitaller, although their influence gradually declined. Between the 13th and 17th centuries, Monzón frequently hosted sessions of the
Cortes of the
Crown of Aragon. The
Cathedral of Santa María del Romeral, with its
Romanesque features, together with the castle, whose origins date to the 9th century, often accommodated the monarchs and nobility.
Modern and Contemporary Age In 1626,
Cardinal Richelieu and
Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares signed the
Treaty of Monzón, which ended the conflict over the
Valtellina. During the
Catalan Revolt, Monzón was captured by Franco-Catalan forces under
Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt in 1642 and retaken the following year by Castilian troops commanded by
Felipe da Silva. The
Castle of Monzón, considered a strategic stronghold, was again occupied by the French during the
Peninsular War. It was recaptured in 1814 by Spanish forces under
General Copons, assisted by
Juan Van Halen, a Spanish officer of Flemish origin who later became a lieutenant general. Van Halen had previously used similar tactics to capture
Lleida and
Mequinenza. ==Industry and communications==