HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE PALACE

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE PALACE.

This imposing palace is an unique case among the multiple legacies of the nowadays preserved Roman architecture. There is not any other building with the same characteristic as this one in the whole territory occupied by the Roman empire. It is erected on over a suburban village of high Roman Imperial time.

The information after six years of archaeological investigation, allows to think that the monument was palace and headquarters of the emperor Maximian during its stay in Hispania (296-297 A.D.). It is precibely in this location where he organizes the peace aiming campaign that will lead him to the north of Africa.

In this moment does the Roman empire experience an important political transformation in charge of Diocletian and of the emperors: the Tetrarchy. These emperors decentralize the imperial headquarters from Rome to outside areas, they revitalizing in this way the unity of the Empire.

Until this moment no tetrarchics imperial palace was known in the western half of Empire. The nearest were those of Milan (Italy) and Trier (Germany).

The palace of Cercadilla was built by Maximian in the western end of their domains with the purpose of materializing in a emblematic building, their real control all a long the Roman occident. A building of these characteristics proofs that Cordoba did still play at that time role the political control of Hispania and even of the western end of the Empire.

Their original design and conception transforms it into an essential element to know the architecture of these called under imperial era and the principles that, not very later, will give place to the appearance of the Byzantine architecture.

The history of the location continuous. By the middle of the IV century, a part of it will be used as a center of Christian cult. To this is it associate an extensive necropolis of the Visigothic and Mozarabic time. Among the numerous burials, the funeral tablet of Lampadius and the ring-stamp of Samson, Cordoba bishops from whom there was no evidence till the moment have been found.

Later on, in medieval time, occupied part of this area suburb of those that surrounded the walled enclosure of the city. Nowadays some of the houses that constituted this suburb and part of the road network that allowed the connection of some areas with others. Are known part from all this utensils that were part of the daily life of the citizens of Cordoba of this moment have been found.