Mequinenza

Mequinenza or Mequinensa is a town and municipality of the province of Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is located beside the river Segre, close to its confluence with the river Ebro.History and featuresIt was conquered from the Moors by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1149.In 1412, during the Compromise of Caspe, Antonio de Luna and supporters of James of Urgell created in Mequinenza his own parliament of Aragón (the parliament of Alcañiz supported to Ferdinand of Antequera), but they weren't recognized by the parliament of Tortosa.In the Siege of Mequinenza in May and June 1810, a French army under Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet wrested the town and castle from Colonel Carbon and 1,000 Spanish defenders. During the Battle of the Ebro in the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) there were violent battles in the Auts, south across the river from Mequinensa.This town is located in La Franja, the local dialect is a variant of Catalan. The town celebrates festivals in honor of Santa Agatoclia (called simply “La Santa”) from September 16 to 20.