''Jaume I'' (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

: ''Jaime I'') or the Monument to James I is an instance of public art in

Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...

, Spain. The monument is topped by an equestrian bronze statue representing

James I of Aragon James I the Conqueror ( es, Jaime el Conquistador, ca, Jaume el Conqueridor; 2 February 1208 – 27 July 1276) was King of Aragon and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276; King of Majorca from 1231 to 1276; and Valencia from 1238 to 1276 ...

, conqueror of Valencia in 1238 and founder of the

Kingdom of Valencia Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...

History and description

The project for the monument was lobbied in 1875 by a group of people associated to ''

Las Provincias ''Las Provincias'' is a Spanish language regional newspaper published in Valencia, Spain. Founded in 1886 it is one of the oldest publications in the country. History and profile ''Las Provincias'' was first published in Valencia in January 1886 ...

'', on the occasion of the upcoming 600th anniversary of the death of James I in 1276, and then assumed by the

Ayuntamiento ''Ayuntamiento'' ()In other languages of Spain: * ca, ajuntament (). * gl, concello (). * eu, udaletxea (). is the general term for the town council, or ''cabildo'', of a municipality or, sometimes, as is often the case in Spain and Latin Amer ...

, setting a managing junta for the project. Entrusted to the municipal architect Constantino Marzo, works in the 7.5 m high pedestal took place in 1878. In October 1882 the design of the equestrian statue was awarded to the Vallmitjana brothers from

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

, Venancio and Agapito, although the former renounced, leaving only Agapito. The wood model of the statue was delivered in 1886, and moved from Barcelona to Valencia in pieces. The

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

employed for the 5.20 m high statue, was obtained from unused cannons from the Castle of Peñíscola provided by the Ministry of War. The monument was unveiled on 20 July 1891. The two Spanish-language lateral inscriptions on the pedestal read: (" eentered victorious in Valencia, liberating it from the muslim yoke, on the day of St. Dionysius, 9 October 1238") and ("to King Don Jaime the Conqueror, founder of the Kingdom of Valencia, Valencia grateful. Year 1891"). File:Escut de València al monument a Jaume I, València.JPG, Coat of arms of Valencia featured in the pedestal File:València, Monument a Jaume I el Conqueridor , d'Agapit Vallmitjana (1890) (13977012073).jpg, James I anachronistically wearing a Royal ''cimera'' of Aragon

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * * {{Cite book, title=Callejeando por Valencia, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VM7O0rkxL7IC&pg=PA140, first=Mª Francisca, last=Olmedo de Cerdá, publisher=Carena Editors, year=2003, location=Valencia, isbn=84-87398-72-3 Bronze sculptures in Spain Outdoor sculptures in Spain Sculptures of men in Spain Buildings and structures in Valencia Monuments and memorials in Spain Statues of monarchs Equestrian statues in Spain