History
Prehistory
The oldest remains in the Nature Reserve were found in the Puente Mocho archaeological site near the town of Beas de Segura and date from the Lower Palaeolithic Period.
Further ruins were discovered in the Nacimiento cave in Pontones. They date from the period of transition from the Mesolithic Period to the Upper Palaeolithic in 10,000 BCE, when changes in the climate permitted activities outside the caves that led to a revolution in farming, herding and sedentariness: the Neolithic Period.
Levantine-style rock art is found in several areas and archaeological sites, including the Cañada de la Cruz cave, the Río Frío rock shelter and the Engarbo caves in Santiago-Pontones. Quesada has two caves worthy of mention: the Cueva del Encajero (the Lacemaker's Cave) and the Cueva de la Monja (the Nun's Cave). Segura de la Sierra boasts the Cueva de la Diosa Madre (the Mother Goddess Cave), the Collado del Guijarral and the Poyo de los Letreros.
Remains from ...
The oldest remains in the Nature Reserve were found in the Puente Mocho archaeological site near the town of Beas de Segura and date from the Lower Palaeolithic Period.
Further ruins were discovered in the Nacimiento cave in Pontones. They date from the period of transition from the Mesolithic Period to the Upper Palaeolithic in 10,000 BCE, when changes in the climate permitted activities outside the caves that led to a revolution in farming, herding and sedentariness: the Neolithic Period.
Levantine-style rock art is found in several areas and archaeological sites, including the Cañada de la Cruz cave, the Río Frío rock shelter and the Engarbo caves in Santiago-Pontones. Quesada has two caves worthy of mention: the Cueva del Encajero (the Lacemaker's Cave) and the Cueva de la Monja (the Nun's Cave). Segura de la Sierra boasts the Cueva de la Diosa Madre (the Mother Goddess Cave), the Collado del Guijarral and the Poyo de los Letreros.
Remains from ...
The oldest remains in the Nature Reserve were found in the Puente Mocho archaeological site near the town of Beas de Segura and date from the Lower Palaeolithic Period.
Further ruins were discovered in the Nacimiento cave in Pontones. They date from the period of transition from the Mesolithic Period to the Upper Palaeolithic in 10,000 BCE, when changes in the climate permitted activities outside the caves that led to a revolution in farming, herding and sedentariness: the Neolithic Period.
Levantine-style rock art is found in several areas and archaeological sites, including the Cañada de la Cruz cave, the Río Frío rock shelter and the Engarbo caves in Santiago-Pontones. Quesada has two caves worthy of mention: the Cueva del Encajero (the Lacemaker's Cave) and the Cueva de la Monja (the Nun's Cave). Segura de la Sierra boasts the Cueva de la Diosa Madre (the Mother Goddess Cave), the Collado del Guijarral and the Poyo de los Letreros.
Remains from the Copper Age have been found at Hornos de Segura and Iznatoraf. The number of settlements across the Nature Reserve area increased dramatically towards 1700 before the common era (BCE from hereon in) and throughout the Bronze Age. La Loma del Bellotón, near Cazorla, Cerro de la Coja in Orcera and Las Hermanillas in Puente de Génave are some of the sites dating from that period.
Iron was used after the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, heralding the beginning of the Iberian culture. There were settlements at Castellones de Ceal, in Hinojares, and El Collado de la Virgen, near Torres de Albanchez. The settlement dwellings were organised into districts and streets. The economy was based on farming, weaving, ceramics, herding and iron metallurgy. The treasures in Santiago de la Espada and Mogón evidence the importance of these occupations. Sculpture was also very important, as shown by the collection of Iberian art in the Museum of Jaén. Two examples are the Lion of Bienservida, discovered in the municipal district of Villarrodrigo, at the north end of the Nature Reserve, and the Cámara de Toya burial chamber in Peal de Becerro, at the south end.
The Roman villas & Ibn Hamusk's independent kingdom
Although there were no important Roman cities within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve, the more fertile valleys are dotted with many examples of villae (large houses considered the administrative centre of the estates on which they stood). The most interesting of these are the Bruñel villa, in Quesada, and the Roman villa of Los Baños (The Baths) in Arroyo del Ojanco. There are also some public buildings, notably Puente Mocho bridge, near Beas de Segura, and some remnants of Roman roads. Other common remains are mill stones, roofing tiles and pottery, including the terra sigillata ware, bright red luxury pottery renowned for its high quality.
Tombs from the Visigoth period are found at Cerro de la Horca hill, close to Peal de Becerro.
Ibn Hamusk's independent kingdom
Dating back to the Moorish period, after the fall of the caliphate of Cordoba, this area was controlled by the taifas (little kingdoms) until the advent ...
Although there were no important Roman cities within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve, the more fertile valleys are dotted with many examples of villae (large houses considered the administrative centre of the estates on which they stood). The most interesting of these are the Bruñel villa, in Quesada, and the Roman villa of Los Baños (The Baths) in Arroyo del Ojanco. There are also some public buildings, notably Puente Mocho bridge, near Beas de Segura, and some remnants of Roman roads. Other common remains are mill stones, roofing tiles and pottery, including the terra sigillata ware, bright red luxury pottery renowned for its high quality.
Tombs from the Visigoth period are found at Cerro de la Horca hill, close to Peal de Becerro.
Ibn Hamusk's independent kingdom
Dating back to the Moorish period, after the fall of the caliphate of Cordoba, this area was controlled by the taifas (little kingdoms) until the advent ...
Although there were no important Roman cities within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve, the more fertile valleys are dotted with many examples of villae (large houses considered the administrative centre of the estates on which they stood). The most interesting of these are the Bruñel villa, in Quesada, and the Roman villa of Los Baños (The Baths) in Arroyo del Ojanco. There are also some public buildings, notably Puente Mocho bridge, near Beas de Segura, and some remnants of Roman roads. Other common remains are mill stones, roofing tiles and pottery, including the terra sigillata ware, bright red luxury pottery renowned for its high quality.
Tombs from the Visigoth period are found at Cerro de la Horca hill, close to Peal de Becerro.
Ibn Hamusk's independent kingdom
Dating back to the Moorish period, after the fall of the caliphate of Cordoba, this area was controlled by the taifas (little kingdoms) until the advent of the Almoravids. Segura de la Sierra did not predominate over the other areas, however, until after the fall of the Almoravids, when the second taifas were created. Their ruler was Ibrahim Ibn Hamusk, a prominent personage who rebelled against the Almoravids in 1147 and proclaimed an independent kingdom. Ibn Hamusk's alliance with the Murcia taifa gave him control over most of the present-day province of Jaen.
The Settlement, followers of the Order of Santiago and the Manrique family
The exact date on which the Christians entered Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas is unknown. When the Settlement of Cazorla was created in 1231, it came under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Toledo, headed by Rodrigo Ximenez de Rada. The main towns were Quesada, Cazorla and Iznatoraf.
Segura's situation was different, however, for it was conquered through the Order of Santiago. In 1242, Fernando III donated Segura de la Sierra and all its domains to the Order of Santiago, and from that day on it became a Commandery of the Order of Santiago. In 1246, Segura became the headquarters of the Main Commandery of Castile owing to the town's economic and strategic importance, and it was granted a charter the same year. Two of the most important Commanders were Rodrigo Manrique, the Commander of Segura for most of the 15th century, and the father of the poet Jorge Manrique.
The Modern Era differed little from the Middle Ages, although the population gradually increa ...
The exact date on which the Christians entered Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas is unknown. When the Settlement of Cazorla was created in 1231, it came under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Toledo, headed by Rodrigo Ximenez de Rada. The main towns were Quesada, Cazorla and Iznatoraf.
Segura's situation was different, however, for it was conquered through the Order of Santiago. In 1242, Fernando III donated Segura de la Sierra and all its domains to the Order of Santiago, and from that day on it became a Commandery of the Order of Santiago. In 1246, Segura became the headquarters of the Main Commandery of Castile owing to the town's economic and strategic importance, and it was granted a charter the same year. Two of the most important Commanders were Rodrigo Manrique, the Commander of Segura for most of the 15th century, and the father of the poet Jorge Manrique.
The Modern Era differed little from the Middle Ages, although the population gradually increa ...
The exact date on which the Christians entered Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas is unknown. When the Settlement of Cazorla was created in 1231, it came under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Toledo, headed by Rodrigo Ximenez de Rada. The main towns were Quesada, Cazorla and Iznatoraf.
Segura's situation was different, however, for it was conquered through the Order of Santiago. In 1242, Fernando III donated Segura de la Sierra and all its domains to the Order of Santiago, and from that day on it became a Commandery of the Order of Santiago. In 1246, Segura became the headquarters of the Main Commandery of Castile owing to the town's economic and strategic importance, and it was granted a charter the same year. Two of the most important Commanders were Rodrigo Manrique, the Commander of Segura for most of the 15th century, and the father of the poet Jorge Manrique.
The Modern Era differed little from the Middle Ages, although the population gradually increased, as did the variety of crops. Forests were another main source of wealth, so bylaws known as the Ordenanzas del Común were enforced in 1580 to govern their use in the Commandery of Segura. During this period, large estates were donated to noble families in the service of the Crown.
In general terms, the 17th century is considered a period of crises and decadence brought about by the Crown's financial needs, poor weather conditions, failing crops and epidemics. Present-day Jaén was hit particularly hard by the epidemics of 1649 and 1685.
The Maritime Province and the Napoleonic invasion
The 18th century was marked by the advent of the Bourbons and a budding economic recovery inherited from the preceding century. The mountain woodlands became a strategic resource for the Crown owing to the vast wealth of raw materials supplied by their forests. The timber was used to erect important buildings, including the Tobacco Factory in Seville –which now houses the University of Seville– and to modernise the naval fleet. The Maritime Province of Segura was established, with the Minister normally residing in Orcera, location of the Maritime Court, although the seat of the ministry was in Segura de la Sierra. Oddly, the inland territory was governed by the Spanish Armada during this period in history.
Angered by the imposition of a new jurisdiction, the prohibition of traditional forestry methods, and wrongdoings by certain civil servants, the locals responded by causing widespread forest fires, including a huge one in 1763.
The turn of the century was ...
The 18th century was marked by the advent of the Bourbons and a budding economic recovery inherited from the preceding century. The mountain woodlands became a strategic resource for the Crown owing to the vast wealth of raw materials supplied by their forests. The timber was used to erect important buildings, including the Tobacco Factory in Seville –which now houses the University of Seville– and to modernise the naval fleet. The Maritime Province of Segura was established, with the Minister normally residing in Orcera, location of the Maritime Court, although the seat of the ministry was in Segura de la Sierra. Oddly, the inland territory was governed by the Spanish Armada during this period in history.
Angered by the imposition of a new jurisdiction, the prohibition of traditional forestry methods, and wrongdoings by certain civil servants, the locals responded by causing widespread forest fires, including a huge one in 1763.
The turn of the century was ...
The 18th century was marked by the advent of the Bourbons and a budding economic recovery inherited from the preceding century. The mountain woodlands became a strategic resource for the Crown owing to the vast wealth of raw materials supplied by their forests. The timber was used to erect important buildings, including the Tobacco Factory in Seville –which now houses the University of Seville– and to modernise the naval fleet. The Maritime Province of Segura was established, with the Minister normally residing in Orcera, location of the Maritime Court, although the seat of the ministry was in Segura de la Sierra. Oddly, the inland territory was governed by the Spanish Armada during this period in history.
Angered by the imposition of a new jurisdiction, the prohibition of traditional forestry methods, and wrongdoings by certain civil servants, the locals responded by causing widespread forest fires, including a huge one in 1763.
The turn of the century was marked by a severe crisis throughout the kingdom, which collapsed in 1808 when the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by France. French presence in the Sierra de Segura was sporadic, for the troops were busy controlling the big cities and only sallied forth to harass the population by plundering, setting fire to their property and destroying their strongholds, including the Castle of Segura in 1810.
Tremendous changes took place after the French were expelled; a constitutional regime was established and the feudal estates were abolished. When Javier de Burgos divided Spain into provinces, he integrated the former Commandery of Segura, the Settlement of Cazorla and the Commandery of Beas within the boundaries of the province of Jaen.
The old Marine Court in Orcera was set fire and plundered in 1836, during the Carlist wars. The following year, several religious establishments closed under the confiscation of Mendizábal, including Santa María de la Peña monastery in Orcera, La Merced Church in Cazorla, and San Pedro de Alcántara convent in Villacarrillo.
