History

There is a linguistic hypothesis that explains the name of the City of Valladolid from a Roman Celtic toponym, “Valle Tolitum”; meaning “Valley of Water”, which suggests the existence of a villa during the Romanisation period that survived the upcoming Visigothic dominance.

After the Muslim invasion, the repopulation of the area began only at the start of King Alfonso III reign with a policy to strengthen its territorial integrity, in the late Ninth Century. During the reign of Fernando I the area experienced the first population increase, and under the rule of Alfonso VI (Eleventh Century) the town slowly begins to develop.

In the year 1072 the king granted to the Earl D. Pedro Ansúrez the Lordship of the Villa of Valladolid, that their heirs, the Counts of Urgel, would retain until 1208. This Count was truly the driving force behind ithe growth of Valladolid.

Since that time, the population kept increasing and the city would be the scene of Courts and Councils. The nobles choose the Villa to build their palaces, contributing to make it more attractive. The coronation of Mrs.
Berenguela takes place in 1217 at Market Square (now University Square).

The University was founded in the 13th Century. In 1300, Mrs. Maria de Molina, Queen Regent, established her residence in the Villa and notably enhanced it. Enrique II established the first Court of Chancery. It is the birthplace of kings like Enrique IV, born here in 1425, or Felipe II in 1527. It is also the venue for royal weddings: Ferdinand and Isabella married in Valladolid in 1469 at the palace of Vivero, starting at this point the future unity of the Spanish kingdoms. Here was also established one of the Courts of the Inquisition.

There comes a major political crisis after the death of Isabella the Catholic, as Valladolid ceases to occupy the prominent position experienced during her reign. Then, it becomes the center of the nacionalist movement of the Comuneros de Castilla, until their defeat in Villalar, in 1521.
Culturally, there is at this time a major artistic renaissance that will result in splendid schools of sculpture.

Felipe II granted to valladolid the title of City, having been the place of his birth, and also turned it into the political and administrative capital of the Kingdom.

But In 1559, due to economic circumstances such as the scarcity of wood in the area, much needed raw material for construction, the court moved to Madrid.

Valladolid suffered in 1561 a major fire, and the downtown area of the city was severely damaged. For the first time in Spain there was designed as a Square of regular arrangement, The Plaza Mayor, an example for other posterior constructions.

The Duke of Lerma was a great promoter of the development of the city, performing great ornamental works at local palaces and churches and promoting the construction of beautiful walks.

The 17th century is marked by the decadence in all aspects of life.
The brief staying of the Court between 1601 and 1606 does not solve any problem, economically or socially, as their departure made more apparent the crisis. The decline became obvious in the demographic end economic aspects of life, when population declines and so does the handicraft industry. The rents of the fields decrease as well.

From 1670 there begins a process of modernization, mainly through the revival of the textile industry, which will transform the city gradually. At the beginning of the the 18th Century there is a general improvement of life conditions.
It is in this century when there are initiatives such as the route of the Paseo de las Moreras, or the planning of Campo Grande, new green spaces for the city. During this period also occurs the canonization of San Pedro Regalado (1746), Patron of the city, an event that had great significance.Principio del formulario

The beginning of the 19th Century will be marked by the War of Independence. Valladolid becomes a target for the French, who try to take it over and passed to military control it after the Battle of Cabezón. From 1813 they are expelled from Valladolid, and the city is marked by successive political swings (Liberal Triennium, Restoration ...), whith frecuent changes of government.

During the decade of 1850 a dramatic physical and social transformation takes place. The so-called flour middle class begins to be noticed and will reassert itself with the Restoration. The foundation of the economic unfolding lays in the transportation revolution, with the navigation of the Canal de Castilla waterway and the arrival of the railroad to the city, that will boost trade and will develop greatly the local industry (fishmeal). There is also a significant evolution of the financial system, with the creation of Banco de Valladolid in 1856, and the emergence of credit companies.

This growth period will come into crisis in 1864, with the collapse of Banco de Valladolid and the onset of famines.
The 20th Century starts in Valladolid with a coalition of republicans, unionists and liberals, where political elites take control without public management problems, until the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera.
After the military coup of 1923 the City Council is dissolved, and the City Mayor, named under the former government, is dismissed.

With the declaration of the Civil War, Valladolid opt for the National side of the conflict. The City Council is turned into a Management Committee, and Valladolid will be controlled by the the army and law enforcement authorities.

At the end of the conflict the difficulties of the postwar will become obvious (lack of housing, food rationing ...)
The population of Valladolid maintained a steady growth since 1940, to be configured as an industrial city.

From 1950 there is a profound socioeconomic transformation, accelerating the transition from a rural and agrarian society to an urban and industrial one. Valladolid was included in the Development Plan of 1964 with major investments. The most important goes to the metal industry (Endesa), along with the automobile (Fasa) and feed mills, fertilizer (Nicas) ... However, the flour industry goes into decline.

The capital is transformed profoundly in the industry as well as with the expansion of residential areas, great part of them subsidized, giving rise to new neighborhoods, and solving the housing problem of many families arrived from rural areas.

After Franco's death a period of transition begins, and after the first elections two regional assemblies are constituted, in Villalar (socialist) and Monzón (UCD). The Plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly works in order to obtain the Act of pre-autonomy for the region of Castilla y León. The Act was approved in June 13th 1978 , with a territory that also included the regions of Cantabria and La Rioja.

On June 7th 1981, the Parliamentary and Provincial deputies Assembly approved in Salamanca the Project of Statute of Autonomy, sent to the Congress and to the Senate, and endorsed in 1983. The Headquarters of the Cortes and of the Junta de Castilla y León are set in Valladolid, and the Court of Justice is set in Burgos.