Lleida has a fascinating culture due to the twelve giants that parade in autumn, Ilergetes people and the first University in Aragon.
Ilergetes people
Lleida, also known by the Spanish name of Lérida, is one of the four main cities of Catalonia, located inland on the border with Aragon, is crossed by the Segre River, which is the main tributary of the Ebro. Lleida has ancient origins as an important center of the Ilergeti population, led by the mythical commanders Indíbil and Mandonio during the Second Punic War.
The Ilergetes, allies of Carthage, participated in the naval battle of the Ebro river in 217 BC in the history. Roman fleet defeated the Carthage commander Asdrubale Barca, brother of Hannibal, in the very same battle. Rome subdued Ilergetes people in 205 BC. Indíbil and Mandonio tried to revolt but they were repressed.
The first University in Aragon
After the Muslim conquest, Lleida returned to Christianity in 1150 and integrated into the Kingdom of Aragon. In 1297, King James II established the studium general, the first university in Aragon.
The university was destroyed following the siege of Lleida by the Bourbon troops of Duke Philip of Anjou in 1707. The siege of Lleida was an episode of the war of the Spanish succession, in which the future king of Spain Philip V contended for the throne with the archduke Charles d ‘Austria of the Habsburg family.
Lleida, loyal to the Habsburgs, was besieged for three months by the Bourbon troops and then capitulated. Bourbon troops sacked the city, destroyed the historic center and cruelly repressed the population. The kingdom closed the university and restored it in 1991. Today it is a favorite destination for Erasmus students.
Marraco
The mythological animal of the Ilergetes was a dragon called Marraco, considered the spiritual father of Indíbil. In modern representations, the dragon has a large mouth and sharp teeth for it to devour children. Today, the dragon story serves to scare disobedient children.
The Marraco parades through the streets of Lleida during the autumn festival, a peasant celebration held between 28 and 30 September each year. The festival coincides with the patron saint of San Michele and the end of the harvest.
Together with the Marraco, the sculptures of the twelve giants parade. The giants depict couples of men and women, such as Marc Antony and Cleopatra, the pharaohs and the Chinese emperors. The giants can be admired all year round inside the town hall of Lleida.
Written by Enrico, Translated by Hua and Photo from Hua
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