HISTORY
The first written documentation of the three nuclei (Carchelejo, Cárchel and Cazalla) dates to the conquest of these lands by the Castilian Kings. Around 1256, Alfonso X "el Sabio" donated the Castle of Cárcheles to the Bishop of Jaén, the ruins of which are located in what we now know as Castillejo. From 1271, a Lordship owned by Don Día Sánchez appears documented, comprising Cárchel and Cazalla, border enclaves that passed through various jurisdictions and owners before returning to the hands of the Bishopric of Jaén.
In 1485, the Catholic Monarchs conquered the town of Cambil, rendering it dependent on the city of Jaén until 1558, when a new demarcation was decided; this now included the farmhouses of Carchelejo, Cárchel and Cazalla, which became dependent on Cambil.
The reign of Carlos II (1665-1700) was a challenging time for Spain, with the economy suffering greatly. In this historical context, when faced with the financial burdens of the Royal Treasury, King Carlos decided to sell these towns to Don Antonio de Arellano y Contreras, for the sum of three million maravedís, equivalent to 273,000 euros. In 1696, and after several years of lawsuits, he decided to reinstate them to the Crown of Spain. However, by restoring them as royal property, he exempted them from the jurisdiction of Cambil, and went on to form a new Council, from May 24, 1696. The Town Hall was established in Carchelejo, since at this time it was the central nucleus of the three towns.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Carchelejo was mainly dedicated to the agricultural sector, with the land distributed between private, communal and church ownership. This division was profoundly unequal; two owners held more than 50% of the lands, and the church's property only totalled 5.78% of the local land mass, significantly below national averages. The Council of Carchelejo and its annexes were made up of the following positions: the Ordinary Mayors, the highest authority in the municipal government; three Aldermen, whose functions would be equivalent to those of the today's councillors; a Mayor of the Holy Brotherhood, in charge of organising locals and, occasionally, prosecuting bandits; a Mayor Bailiff; and an Ombudsman Trustee, defender of the interests of the community against abuses or deviations committed by the Cabildo.
The most significant development of the nineteenth century was the administrative separation of the Cárchel nucleus, which was traumatic for both sides. It was commenced at the request of Antonio de Almazán, second Alderman of the Council of Carchelejo and resident of Cárchel, in the year 1841, and formalised in 1843. During the process, the priest Don Manuel García was separated and exiled from his parish by the Governor of the Bishopric of Jaén, given his political implications in the process.
Between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, both populations continued to grow demographically. This maximum demographic splendor of the two nuclei began to decline after the Spanish Civil War, due to the decrease in birth rates during this period, but also owing to the definitive emigration of families in the 1950s and 60s to the Basque Country, Madrid, Catalonia and foreign nations. The agricultural monoculture of the towns made them susceptible to poverty and hunger during bad harvests, prompting this migration.
Faced with this harsh economic and demographic reality, by Decree 450/74 of February 7, 1974 (BOE no. 44 of February 20, 1974), the municipalities of Carchelejo and Cárchel merged, forming a single municipality as had happened until 1843, but now with the name of Los Cárcheles.