Editing Mérida, Spain (section)

== History ==
Mérida has been populated since prehistoric times as demonstrated by a prestigious [[hoard]] of gold jewellery that was excavated from a girl's grave in 1870. Consisting of two [[penannular bracelet]]s, an armlet and a chain of six spiral wire rings, it is now preserved at the [[British Museum]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?place=35933&plaA=35933-3-1 British Museum Collection]</ref> The town was founded in 25 BC, with the name of '''''[[Emerita Augusta]]''''' (meaning the veterans&nbsp;– discharged soldiers – of the army of Augustus, who founded the city; the name ''Mérida'' is an evolution of this) by order of [[Emperor Augustus]], to protect a pass and a [[bridge]] over the [[Guadiana]] river. ''[[Emerita Augusta]]'' was one of the ends of the [[Vía de la Plata]] (Silver Way), a strategic Roman Route between the gold mines around [[Astorga, Spain|''Asturica Augusta'']] and the most important Roman city in the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. The city became the capital of [[Lusitania]] [[Roman province|province]], and one of the most important cities in the [[Roman Empire]]. Mérida preserves more important ancient [[Roman monuments]] than any other city in Spain, including a [[Roman Provincial Forum (Merida)|triumphal arch]] and a [[Roman Theatre (Mérida)|theatre]].

After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], during the [[Visigothic]] period, the city maintained much of its splendor, especially under the 6th-century domination of the bishops, when it was the capital of [[Hispania]].  

In 713 it was conquered by the Muslim army under [[Musa ibn Nusayr]], and became the capital of the [[cora of Mérida]]; the Arabs re-used most of the old Roman buildings and expanded some, such as the [[Alcazaba of Merida|Alcazaba]]. During the [[Fitna of al-Andalus|''fitna'' of al-Andalus]], Mérida fell in the newly established [[Taifa of Badajoz]].

The city was brought under Christian rule in 1230, when it was conquered by [[Alfonso IX of León]], and subsequently became the seat of the priory of San Marcos de León of the [[Order of Santiago]]. A period of recovery started for Mérida after the unification of the crowns of [[Crown of Aragon|Aragon]] and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] (15th century), thanks to the support of [[Alonso de Cárdenas]], Grand Master of the Order. 

In 1720, the city became the capital of the Intendencia of Mérida. It is on the [[Via de la Plata]] path of the [[Camino de Santiago]] as an alternative to the [[French Way]]. 

During the 19th century, in the course of the [[Napoleonic Wars|Napoleonic invasion]], numerous monuments of Mérida and of Extremadura were destroyed or damaged. Later the city became a railway hub and underwent massive industrialization.

On 10 August 1936, during the [[Spanish Civil War]], in the [[Battle of Mérida]]<ref>Beevor, Antony. (2006). ''The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939.'' Penguin Books. London. p. 120</ref> the [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalists]] gained control of the city.