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Valentia Edetanorum was founded by the Romans in 138 B.C.. The empire of Augustus was the most outstanding in Valencian Roman history. Followed by the Visigothic monarchy in the fourth century, it was conquered by the Arabs in 714. The city acquired importance from then on, capitalising on the agricultural development of the area.
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During the tenth century, Valencia became fully involved in the political life of Al-Andalus and gained importance as the capital of a taifa kingdom. The weakening of the Arab empire made possible the conquest of the city by El Cid Campeador in 1094, although the Almoravides took power again in 1102.
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Jaime I reconquered the city definitely in 1238, integrating it into the Aragonese Crown and founding the Valencian Kingdom. The city was then endowed with its own statutory legislation (Furs) and with particular institutions, such as the Consolat del Mar, the Tribunal de las Aguas (water tribunal), the Taula de Canvis (exchange table), the Letra de Cambio (Bill of Exchange)...
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Between the fifteenth and the seventeenth century, Valencia became the most important city in the Aragonese Crown. The prosperity from agriculture and the silk industry, its increasing importance as a financial and commercial centre and the culmination of the cultural life made this period the siglo de oro. This golden age of Valencia was characterised by its artistic splendour, with such figures as Joanot Martorell - author of Tirant lo Blanch, the first European modern novel, Ausias March, Roig de Corella, Isabel de Villena.
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The collapse of the Germanías impaired Valencia's position, but the final blow to its economy was the expulsion of the Moors in 1609. After the Bourbon's victory in Almansa, and due to Valencia's association with the Archiduke Carlos of Austria during the Succession War in 1707, Philip V dictated the abolition of privileges - Fueros, or charters granted to the city. However, the city did take part in the country's economic and cultural Renaissance during the eighteenth century.
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The nineteenth century was characterised by the War of Independence, the epic acievements of El Palleter, Romeu and Pep de L'Horta, the Carlist Wars and the Valencian canton in 1873. Alfonso XII was nominated constitutional King in Sagunto the following year. Valencia was the capital of the Republican Government for some time during the Civil War (1936-1939). It suffered great losses during the flood of 1957. With the restauration of the Monarchy, Valencia became the capital of the Autonomous Region.
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With the passing of the centuries, numerous historical events have left their mark on the city thereby enriching its heritage. It has become, culturally and economically, not only one of the main cities in the Autonomous Region, but in Spain.
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