<p><strong>History of the Municipality<strong><p>
A fortified town always on the frontier
Between cultures, kings, kingdoms, and factions… the whims of history have meant that Mora de Rubielos has always been a land of borders. Thus, century after century, the monumental character of this town was forged.
The territory of Mora was finally conquered by the Aragonese at the end of the 12th century, after two decades of disputes with the Almohad Caliphate. The frontier with Islam moved further south after the conquest of Valencia in 1238. Many locals from Mora took part in this campaign, and King James I later rewarded them with land and possessions in the new kingdom.
In the 14th century, Aragon and Castile fought the War of the Two Peters. The Castilians occupied Mora in 1363. On April 11th, 1364, Aragonese troops besieged the town to reclaim it. The people of Mora, eager to return to Aragon, helped the soldiers enter.
During the War of Spanish Succession, Mora supported Philip of Bourbon’s claim to the throne, opposing their lords, the Fernández de Heredia family. In 1708, after his victory, King Philip V rewarded Mora with the title Fidelísima (“Most Faithful”) and added the Bourbon Fleur-de-Lis to its coat of arms.
During the Carlist Wars, Mora and especially its castle were the scenes of battles between liberals and General Cabrera’s troops. In the 20th century, the town once again found itself between two warring sides—this time during the Spanish Civil War. The Republicans fortified Mora and its surroundings, leading Franco’s forces to encircle the town and force their retreat. The conflict was devastating, and the post-war years saw clashes between guerrilla fighters (“maquis”) hiding in the mountains and Franco’s regime.