Lordship of Villena facts for kids
The Lordship of Villena (in Spanish, Señorío de Villena) was a special territory in southern Spain. It was like a mini-state ruled by a powerful noble. This area was part of the kingdom of Castile. It was located between the city of Cuenca to the north and Murcia to the south.
The Lordship had two main parts. These were the Land of Alarcón in the north and the Land of Chinchilla in the south. Other important towns included Iniesta, Jorquera, Hellín, Tobarra, Almansa, Yecla, Sax, and Villena. Even though Villena gave the Lordship its name, it was not in the very center of the territory. The borders of the Lordship changed over time. Some towns joined for a while, and others left.
How the Lordship of Villena Began
The Lordship of Villena started in two main ways.
The Land of Don Manuel
First, many towns and villages belonged to a royal prince named Manuel of Castile. These places included Jorquera, Hellín, Ves, Tobarra, Almansa, Yecla, Sax, and Villena. Because they were owned by Prince Manuel, people started calling this area the Land of Don Manuel.
The Role of Juan Manuel
Second, the Land of Alarcón and Iniesta were originally owned by the King of Castile. Later, a very important noble named Juan Manuel took control of these lands. He was the son of Prince Manuel. Juan Manuel had a lot of power in his territory. He worked to make the Lordship even more important. It became a dukedom and then a principality under his rule.
See also
In Spanish: Señorío de Villena para niños
