"Valentia Edetanorum" - the city of Valencia - was founded in the year 138 BC by the Roman Consul, Decimus Junius Brutus Galaicus. In the year 75 BC the city was destroyed during the war between Pompeyus and Sertorius but its renaissance was possible in the first century thanks to the immigration of new citizens and the erecting of public buildings.
The Barbaric domination over the Romans led to the disappearance of the trading activity. The city was later dominated by the Visigoths and was conquered by the Muslims in the year 711. Abd al-Allah, son of the first emir of Córdoba, settled down in Valencia (Balansiya in the Arabic language) and created an autonomous government contributing with own language, religion and customs.
The Middle Ages witnessed the conquest of the city by El Cid Campeador in July 1903 after the death of Balansiya's King. El Cid died in Valencia on 10 July 1099 but his wife Doña Jimena along with Ramón Berenger III of Barcelona managed to defend the city until the year 1101 when people were forced to be evacuated due to the pressure of the Almoravids.
In 1238, Jaime I re-conquered the city, incorporating the Aragónese Crown and founding the Kingdom of Valencia. The new state was given a legislative forum (the Feuros). During the 15th century the city increased the number of inhabitants from 40,000 to 75,000 and relevant buildings were erected such as the "Micalet", the "Torres de los Serranos", "La lonja de la seda" and the "Mercaderes" where the "Taula de Canvis" was located strengthening the trade of the city.
The fall of the Germanians damaged its position, but the decisive blow to the economy came with the expulsion of the Moors in 1609. After the Bourbon victory in the battle of Almansa (25 April 1707), Felipe the 5th abolished the Feuros, a punishment for having sided with Archduke Carlos of Austria in the War of Succession.
During the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution and the "Proyecto General del Ensanche" carried out by architects Sebastián Monleón, Antonio Sancho and Timoteo Calvo enabled an increase of population but the sharpest rise of the number of inhabitants took place in the 20th century when the figure turned from 213,550 in 1900 to the current 800,000 people. During a short period of time of the Civil War (November 1936- October 1937), Valencia was the capital of republican Spain and home to the Government. The city suffered great losses in the flooding of 1957.
The economy from Valencia little by little began recovering from this setback, and started growing to now. Today it is one of the most flourishing economies of Spain. The last city’s growing has come with the construction of emblematic buildings like the Arts and Sciences City or with the celebration of important events like the American Cup 2007.
