Gérgal

Gérgal stood on the southern side of the Sierra de los Filabres, controlling the crossing of routes from Fiñana to Tabernas and from Almería into the western mountains. Its fortress overlooked a compact settlement whose economy included flour mills, olive presses, bread ovens and pottery production. These facilities place the town within the working agricultural landscape of eastern Granada.

After the Christian conquest, the Catholic Monarchs granted Xérgal and its territory to Alonso de Cárdenas, master of Santiago, on 24 June 1492. The town subsequently became the head of a lordship belonging to the counts of La Puebla. Gérgal joined the Morisco revolt in 1568; the castle and its governor became central to the local violence before the rebels withdrew at the approach of royal forces. In 1572 the lordship expanded to include Bacares, Velefique and Febeire. Its early modern history therefore linked a mountain fortress to aristocratic jurisdiction and the upheaval of the Morisco war.