La Guardia, Spain

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'''La Guardia''' ({{IPA|es|laˈɣwaɾðja}}) is a municipality located in the [[Toledo (province)|province of Toledo]], [[Castile-La Mancha]], [[Spain]]. There is documented presence since Bronze Age, Romans, Jews and documents since 12th century.

'''La Guardia''' ({{IPA|es|laˈɣwaɾðja}}) is a municipality located in the [[Toledo (province)|province of Toledo]], [[Castile-La Mancha]], [[Spain]]. There is documented presence since Bronze Age, Romans, Jews and documents since 12th century.

The municipality is located in the northeastern part of the [[province of Toledo]], and is bordered by several neighboring towns: to the northwest and west lies [[Huerta de Valdecarábanos]]; to the north, [[Dosbarrios]]; to the northeast, [[Villatobas]]; to the east, [[Corral de Almaguer]]; to the southwest, [[Villanueva de Bogas]]; to the south, [[Tembleque, Spain|Tembleque]] and [[El Romeral]]; and to the southeast, [[Lillo, Spain|Lillo]].

The municipality is located in the northeastern part of the [[province of Toledo]], and is bordered by several neighboring towns: to the northwest and west lies [[Huerta de Valdecarábanos]]; to the north, [[Dosbarrios]]; to the northeast, [[Villatobas]]; to the east, [[Corral de Almaguer]]; to the southwest, [[Villanueva de Bogas]]; to the south, [[Tembleque, Spain|Tembleque]] and [[El Romeral]]; and to the southeast, [[Lillo, Spain|Lillo]].

The municipality lies at the top of a hill, approximately 54 kilometers east of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] and 84 kilometers from [[Madrid]], along the [[Autovía A-4|Autovía del Sur]]. It belongs to the comarca of [[Mesa de Ocaña]] and includes the territories of several now-abandoned settlements: Casar de Redondeo, Daucos, San Cebrián or Cuartos de la Hoz, Santa María, and Villapalomas.

The municipality lies at the top of a hill, approximately 54 kilometers east of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] in the [[Autovía A-4|A-4]] road route connecting [[Madrid]] and [[Andalusia]]. It belongs to the comarca of [[Mesa de Ocaña]] and includes the territories of several now-abandoned settlements: Casar de Redondeo, Daucos, San Cebrián or Cuartos de la Hoz, Santa María, and Villapalomas.

Several streams run through the municipal area, although most remain dry for much of the year. These include the Arroyo Cedrón, Vadeláguila, and Fuente del Madero.

Several streams run through the municipal area, although most remain dry for much of the year. These include the Arroyo Cedrón, Vadeláguila, and Fuente del Madero.

Its elevated position and strategic location along the route to [[Andalusia]] have historically granted it particular significance.

Its elevated position and strategic location along the route to [[Andalusia]] have historically granted it particular significance.

Following the [[Reconquista]], King [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile|Alfonso VI]] ordered that the town be taken by the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]], to whose Order it subsequently belonged. In 1212, it played a notable role in the [[Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa]], for which King [[Alfonso VIII of Castile|Alfonso VIII]] granted it the honor of bearing a blue border with eight golden saltires on its coat of arms, along with the title ''Muy Leal'' ("Most Loyal"). Years later, King [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]] donated the town to the Church of Toledo. It was later alienated by [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] "in favor of the Lords of Guardiola and Bazán."

Following the [[Reconquista]], King [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile|Alfonso VI]] ordered that the town be taken by the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]], to whose Order it subsequently belonged.

La Guardia was gifted to the archbishop of Toledo [[Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada]] circa 1211–13, and also received a ''[[fuero]]''.{{sfn|Jiménez de Gregorio|1996|p=23}} In 1218, its privileges were ratified.{{Sfn|Jiménez de Gregorio|1996|p=24}} In 1581, La Guardia was segregated from the archbishop's possessions, as it was sold to the Count of Campo Rey, paving the way for a downward spiral.{{Sfn|Jiménez de Gregorio|1996|p=32}}

== Folklore ==

[[File:Ermita del Santo Niño de La Guardia, ofrendas.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Offerings in the hermitage of the Holy Child of La Guardia]]

The [[Holy Child of La Guardia]], the purported victim of a 15th-century antisemitic blood libel, is revered as a [[folk saint]] in the locality, inspiring a pilgrimage with his icon every 25 September.{{sfn|Madroñal Durán|2017|page=284}}{{Sfn|Espinoza Meléndez|2024|page=13}}

==Population==

==Population==

*2.329 inhabitants (as Spanish Statistical National Institute) 2006.

*2.329 inhabitants (as Spanish Statistical National Institute) 2006.

*1166 men and 1163 women.

*1166 men and 1163 women.

==Geography==

*Altitude: 693 meters.

*Latitude: 39° 46′ 59″ N

*Longitude: 003° 28′ 59″ O

==See also==

*[[Santo Niño de La Guardia]]

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

* {{Cite journal|pages=|journal=Amotxli|year=2024|title=Los relatos sobre el Santo Niño de la Guardia. Inquisición, martirio, e historiografía|first=Pedro|last=Espinoza Meléndez|url=https://revistas.uft.cl/index.php/amox/article/view/405/535|doi=10.38123/amox12.405|issue=12|issn=0719-997X|publisher=[[Universidad Finis Terrae]]|location=Santiago}}

* {{Cite book|url=https://realacademiatoledo.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/files_temastoledanos_83%20y%2084.%20La%20comarca%20de%20la%20Mesa%20de%20Ocana,%20por%20FJG.pdf|title=La comarca de la Mesa de Ocaña|first=Fernando|last=Jiménez de Gregorio|author-link=Fernando Jiménez de Gregorio|publisher=[[Provincial Deputation of Toledo|Diputación Provincial de Toledo]]|year=1996|isbn=84-87100-35-X|location=Toledo}}

* {{Cite journal|volume=33|issue=1|year=2017|url=https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/rilce/article/view/70|journal=Rilce. Revista de Filología Hispánica|pages=|doi=10.15581/008.33.1.283-301|publisher=[[University of Navarra|Universidad de Navarra. Servicio de Publicaciones]]|location=Pamplona|title=Nuevos datos sobre El niño inocente de La Guardia, de Lope de Vega|trans-title=New Light on Lope de Vega’s. El niño inocente de La Guardia|first=Abraham|last=Madroñal Durán}}

==External links==

==External links==

{{Commons category|La Guardia, Toledo}}

{{Commons category|La Guardia, Toledo}}

* [http://www.laguardiatoledo.org/ Town Council Official Web Page.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311173652/http://www.laguardiatoledo.org/ |date=2007-03-11 }}

* [http://www.laguardiatoledo.org/ Town Council Official Web Page.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311173652/http://www.laguardiatoledo.org/ |date=2007-03-11 }}

* [http://www.laguardiatoledo.info/ Multimedia web of La Guardia, graphical file of the village (with hundreds of pictures and videos)]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070911004956/http://www.laguardiatoledo.info/guardiapedia/Historia_de_La_Guardia History of La Guardia in Guardiapedia].

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111226234829/http://www.laguardiatoledo.info/guardiapedia/Historia_del_Santo_Ni%C3%B1o History of the Holly Child of La Guardia in Guardiapedia].

* [http://www.laguardiatoledo.info/guardiapedia/ Dictionary of La Guardia in Guardiapedia]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111226234829/http://www.laguardiatoledo.info/guardiapedia/Historia_del_Santo_Ni%C3%B1o History of the Holly Child of La Guardia in Guardiapedia].

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[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Toledo]]

[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Toledo]]

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