Murcia

The region was settled in the 3rd century bc by the Carthaginians, who founded the city of Carthago Novo (modern Cartagena) around 228. Romans and Goths followed. In the 8th century ad Murcia was occupied and enriched by the Umayyad Caliphate of Moors. Following the disintegration of the Moorish kingdom of Murcia in the 11th century, it was occupied by the Berber dynasties of Almoravids and Almohads. In 1243 Murcia became a vassal state of Castile, which, 23 years later, annexed it completely. In 1304 Castile granted part of Murcia to the kingdom of Valencia. The region was divided in two to become Murcia and Albacete in 1833. Murcia became an autonomous region in 1982.