The Walls del Arrabal were the third in a set of walls built to surround the Spanish capital of Madrid. It is possible that the walls were built as early as the 12th century however they were most likely constructed in 1438. The walls may have been intended to protect people against the plagues that ravaged the city at the time. The walls united the urbanized suburbs of the city and prevented entry of the infected. A hospital, named Del Buen Suceso, was built for plague victims and stood outside the walls, facing the Puerta del Sol. The hospital was closed in 1854.
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Context
In the 15th century, the city of Madrid continued to grow to the east, as it had since the 9th century. As the population increased, it reached beyond the limits of the walls. During the second half of the century through the early 16th century, the population increased from five thousand to twelve thousand inhabitants. Although Madrid was small, it was considered important among the Medieval Castilian cities, as it was one of seventeen voting places for Courts, which were held there on occasion.
A new wall called Del Arrabal was built around the Christian Walls of Madrid which had surrounded the city since the 12th century.
Some writers place its construction in the mid-12th century, under Henry IV of Castile. Urgorri dated it to the mid-12th century in "Ensanche de Madrid en Tiempos de Juan II y Enrique IV". However, he left out the suburb of Santo Domingo, drew the Walls del Arrabal considering that already existed in 1440, in times of John II of Castile. Professor Montero Vallejo said that it was built in 1438, under John II. According to Vallejo it was built mainly for administrative and sanitary purposes, due to a great plague, one of the many misfortunes that struck Madrid during the 15th century.
The Walls, built during the reign of Henry IV of Castile (mid-15th century), started from the gate Puerta Cerrada. Calle Concepción Jerónima, Conde de Romanones, Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, Calle Carretas, Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, Calle Preciados or Carmen, Plaza de Santo Domingo, Cuesta de Santo Domingo and Plaza de Isabel II, were surrounded by the Medieval Walls.
Later, around 1520, the southern part of the wall was extended to enclose more of the city, starting from the Puerta de Moros, following to the present calles San Millán, Duque de Alba, Plaza de Tirso de Molina, and Calle Conde Romanones, continuing with the original course of the mid-15th century.
Gates and postigos
In the early 16th century, this wall surrounded an area of 70 hectares and had the following 8 gates:
In the early 15th century, there was a gate in the walls at the beginning of the current Calle Toledo, starting the road to Toledo. Subsequently, this gate was moved down to place it in front of the Plaza de la Cebada, near the site of the Hospital de la Latina, the current location of the Teatro de la Latina. This gate was known as Puerta de la Latina.
The Postigo de San Millán was located near the present Plaza de Cascorro, off the Calle de San Millán and Duque de Alba; owing its name to a nearby hermitage.
The Puerta de Atocha was located in the present Plaza de Jacinto Benavente. From here the road to Vallecas started going through "atochares", the crop fields of Esparto grass.
The Puerta del Sol was located in the present Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, and was demolished in 1570. The name was a reference to its east facing facade, toward the sunrise.
The Postigo de San Martín was originally located in the crossing of the current Calle San Martín and Calle Navas de Tolosa. It was later moved to the current Plaza del Callao. Its name came from a nearby convent with the same name.
The Puerta de Santo Domingo was located in the present Plaza de Santo Domingo, and was the way out to Hortaleza and the Sierra de Guadarrama. Its name came from the nearby convent of Santo Domingo el Real.
There are no remaining ruins of these walls.