Austrian Madrid

• The tranferrence of the Court

The moment that really marks the beginning of splendor for the city of Madrid was, without a doubt, moving the Court. It was located in Toledo until May of 1561 when Felipe II ordered its displacement. This transfer was not definitive, since between 1601 and 1606 the monarchial city was Valladolid. As the documents of that era appear to say, that resolution was never welcomed, and after observing the differences between one capital and another (climate, lodgings...) on March 4th Madrid was bestowed the honor, again, of being the seat of the Royal Court.

That Madrid was destined to be the site for the Court was not something trivial. The centralization of power increased its population so much that it tripled the existing population.

• Felipe IV: tremendous growth

With the death of Felipe III and the arrival of Felipe IV a great historical moment began for our town. Culture invaded the streets: architects, artists and writers decided to lodge near the Court. Thus, for example, in 1625 the construction of a semi-permanent mud wall was ordered to prevent the gigantic growth that was causing problems and inconveniences for the people of Madrid. This mud wall was in existence until 1854, when it was impossible to maintain in a expanding Madrid. On June 19, 1622 an important event took place-- the canonization of San Isidro by Pope Gregorio XV. Festivals were celebrated in the Plaza Mayor to celebrate the canonization.

• End of the Austrians

The end of the Austrian dynasty was marked by the death of Carlos II, in November of 1700. He was known as "the Enchanted one." The origin of this name comes from the diverse diseases that he continuously suffered from and his poor physical condition. He was repulsively ugly, rickety and incessantly stubborn. The king married twice and in neither did he leave descendants, thus contributing to the reason why he publicly was thought to be suffering from impotence. Popular criticism was full of satirical songs and poems aimed at his character.

Throughout this stage of Austrian dynasty's control, several major works were constructed: the Bridge of Segovia (in 1582 or 1584 by Juan of Herrera), the Plaza Mayor (according to the plans of Juan Gómez de Mora and constructed between 1617 and 1619), The Buen Retiro Park (constructed by Alonso de Carbonell, using Gómez de Mora and Givovano Batista Crescendi´s plans to distract Felipe IV from his occupations of government.), and the Cathedral of San Isidro which was built between 1622 and 1664 by the Jesuits with the inheritance that the sister of Don Felipe II, empress of Austria-- Dona Maria, had left them. The plans belonged to Pedro Sanchez and were later modified by Francisco Bautista.

In the age of Carlos II, new monasteries were constructed in Madrid, one of which was for Saint Ferdinand at the Mesón de Paredes, one for Saint Paschal and one for Saint Teresa. As well, the Bridge of Toledo and the hermitage of the Virgin of the Port were constructed.