Ciudad de Vascos

Ciudad de Vascos is a medieval archaeological site in the Spanish municipality of Navalmoralejo in which the Islamic city (medina) of Vascos once stood.

The site lies on an escarpment of the river Huso [es].^[1] Vascos seems to have been founded under Umayyad initiative, perhaps dating to circa 930–950.^[2] Due to its location in an area of large Berber settlement, it may have been built by the Cordobese central power to gather and control unruly Nafza [es] tribe members, in addition to its strategic role close to the Tagus to prevent Christian incursions.^[3] There are also signs of metallurgical activity.^[4] Attached to the Middle March of Al-Andalus, the housing of the small walled city included a kasbah, two mosques, and two cemeteries located outside the walls.^[5]

Following the fitna of al-Andalus, Vascos ended up in the western limit of the Taifa of Toledo, whose Dhulnunid rulers were generally at odds with the Taifa of Badajoz.^[6] In that period, the city seems to have experienced a substantial increase of its military garrison as well as general population growth.^[6] After the Christian conquest of Toledo in 1085, the place depopulated by the late 11th century.^[7]

The site was declared 'national historic-artistic monument' (precursor to the status of Bien de Interés Cultural) in June 1931.^[1]