Competa, Archez, Sedella, Canillas de Albaida, Canillas
de Aceituno, all villages which stand at the foot
of the impressive Tejeda and Almijara Sierras; all
morisco - Moorish convert to Christianity - villages,
where vines were the main crop and are still an important
element in the landscape as well as the economy; all
display similar characteristics, reflecting the true
soul of the Axarquia region, its scenery, its way
of life and its history. The layout of their streets
and the architecture of their whitewashed houses,
which create unforgettably-picturesque corners, gives
them a unique seal of identity, so much so that, together,
they make up what is known as the Mudejar Route -
Ruta del Mudéjar - . Competa’s village
centre is the most spectacular in the province, its
architectural highlight being Our Lady’s Church.
History
Some authors insist that the village’s present-day
name is derived from the Latin "compita",
meaning crossroads; though its position in the north
of the Axarquia region must have seen it stand on
the route from the coast to the interior since prehistoric
times and through the Iberian and Roman periods, the
history of the village really begins with the Moslem
occupation and subsequent Christian reconquest. In
May 1487, shortly after the capture of Velez Málaga
by the Christians, representatives of the village
of Competa paid homage to the Catholic Monarchs, in
an attempt to avoid reprisals and retain some semblance
of rights for the morisco - Moslem converts to Christianity
- population. In the end, however, the morisco rebellion
which swept the Axarquia region in the second half
of the 16th century was particularly significant in
this area of Andalusia: the difficult living conditions
endured by inhabitants dominated by Christian troops
created hostility which ended in open rebellion led
by Martin Alguacil (a native of Competa) and Fernando
El Darra. Moriscos established themselves at The Peñon
de Frigiliana, where they managed to repel the first
battalions of the forces sent by the governor of Velez-Malaga,
Arevalo de Zuarzo, in May 1569; it took reinforcements
from Granada, supported by Don John of Austria, and
hundreds of rebel deaths to finally quash the uprising.
In 1570, the process of expelling the moriscos was
completed; their confiscated lands were given to Old
Christians from Sevilla, Baena, Estepa and other parts
of Andalusia. The village suffered at the hands of
the major tremor known as the Andalusian Earthquake
on Christmas Day 1884; material damage included the
destruction of several houses and the spire of the
parish church. Another tragedy was to befall the village
almost immediately afterwards: a serious outbreak
of cholera decimated Competa’s population in
the summer of 1885.
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