Sagunto

Sagunto , Latin Saguntum, town (1990 pop. 58,135), Valencia prov., E Spain, on the Palencia River, in Valencia. A seaport on the Mediterranean, it is an important metallurgical center, with iron and steel foundries. Saguntum was an ally of Rome when it was besieged and captured (219-218 BC) by the Carthaginians under Hannibal. This led to the Second Punic War (see Punic Wars ). Saguntum was conquered by the Romans (214 BC) and made a municipium. On a ridge above the present city are important Roman remains, notably a well-preserved theater. The city fell to the Moors and was called Murviedro until its old name was restored in 1877. In 1874 the restoration of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty was proclaimed there.

Sagunto, Valencia/Spain Saguntum, Murbiter, Murviedro Possibly founded by Greeks from Zakinthos from which the Roman and present names are derived. The Moorish name, Murbiter, came from muri veteres ‘old walls’ and this later became Murviedro. It received its present name in 1868.