Argelita facts for kids
Argelita (Aragonese: Archelita, Catalan: Argeleta) is a small town in Spain. It is located in the province of Castellón, within the Valencia region. In 2015, about 147 people lived there.
Argelita is found in a beautiful valley. The Villahermosa River flows through it. High mountains surround the town. People have grown crops in irrigated orchards for a long time. The weather is nice, and the scenery is lovely. Because of this, many more people visit or stay in Argelita during the summer.
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History of Argelita
Argelita has a long and interesting past. It was first settled by Arabs many centuries ago.
Early Arab Rule
In the 1200s, Argelita belonged to a leader named Abu Zeyd. He was the last Almohad governor of Valencia. When his enemies surrounded him, he went to his palace in Argelita. There, he decided to become a Christian. He gave his lands and belongings to the church and to Christian nobles.
After the Reconquista
After the Christian armies took back Spain (this period is called the Reconquista), Argelita became part of the Spanish Crown in 1491. This meant it was directly controlled by the king or queen.
New Owners and Repopulation
Later, the town of Argelita was given to the Arenós family. On October 5, 1609, the town became empty. This might have happened because many people left or were forced to leave.
To bring life back to Argelita, a new owner, Mr. Pedro Escribá and Zapata, took action. On February 23, 1611, he issued a special document called a Carta Pobla. This document invited 24 new families to come and live in Argelita. These families helped to repopulate the town and make it active again.
Before Castellón became a province, Argelita was part of a larger area. It was known as the Barony of Argelita. This area was under the Marquis of Monistrol, within the government of Morella.
See also
In Spanish: Argelita para niños
