History of Mengíbar
by Saskia Mier
Throughout history, numerous cultures have settled in the valleys of the Guadalquivir. On June 14, 1914, the “Sword of Mengíbar”was discovered, a relic from the latter part of the Bronze age, found in the river bed during construction work on the dam. Dating from the ninth century BC, its cultural influence is believed to have been transmitted from the Phoenicians to the Tartessians of the upper Guadalquivir.
It has been proven that the ancient city of Iliturgiexisted on and around the site now occupied by Mengíbar, not in Andújar as previously believed. From the site known as Las Torres, some excavations have brought to light evidence of this great city, counting among their discoveries foundations of temples, columns, friezes, bases, coins, ceramics and many other pieces.
The Iberian settlement of Ossigi, which Pliny situated next to Mengíbar, was the scene for many battles between the Romans and Hannibal, the Carthaginian General. With the defeat of the Carthaginians, the Romans imposed strong taxes on the Iberian villages; Ossigi refused to pay and some years later the village was laid to waste and the people put to the sword.King Fernando III re-conquered the villageand gave it to the Order of Santiago.
The word “Menxibar”appearsfor the first time in recorded history duringthe conquest of Jaén, which shows that there must have been a fortress with a prison warden, which would be occupied by Christian troops. Once Jaén was conquered, it became part of the city, depending on it until 1574, when Felipe II alienated it from Jaén.Mengíbar thus became a Villa, commencinga period of economic boom for the population.
On December 6, 1708 the first Public School was opened in Mengíbar, and a hundred years later, on July 16, 1808, during the War of Independence, General Reding defeated the French troops here, fleeing to Bailen where, two days later, they would be defeated by the General Castaños.Fernando VII granted the “Mengíbar Cross” to allthose who took part on April 18, 1816.
In 1865, the Vilchez-Córdoba railway section was inaugurated in Mengíbar, the train passing for the first time through the Las Palomeras station in Mengíbar, and in 1912 electric lighting was introducedin the town.