The capital city of Spain. Originally an Arab fortress, it was conquered in 931 by Ramiro, King of León, and annexed to the Kingdom of Castile by Alfonso IV in 1083. It was promoted to the status of city in the 12th century. Philip II chose it as capital city of the Kingdom of Spain in 1561, with the idea of making it an administrative and political capital to counter-oppose the historic capital cities set up during earlier reigns (Toledo, Seville, Barcelona, Saragozza and Granada). After a rapid urban expansion under the Bourbons, it was the centre of the popular revolt against the French in 1808, as well as of the Republican Resistance during the civil war from 1936 to 1939.