Montejaque information
Montejaque is a white village in La Serrania de Ronda
mountains whose urban design bears witness to its Andalusi
past, with steep, narrow streets and whitewashed houses
with Arabic roof tiling; a past that is especially evident
in the upper district of the village. The lower district,
with its modern streets, is home to Saint Jame's Parish
Church.
History
The name Montejaque comes from Monte Sacrum, "sacred mountain".
As a military fortress, it played an important defensive role in protecting
the borders of the Nazari kingdom of Granada. When Ronda was captured
and the surrounding area subsequently controlled by the Catholic Monarchs
in 1485, Montejaque was awarded to the Count of Benavente, who was named
Lord of Montejaque and Benaojan, whereupon the 2 villages ceased to be
mere districts of the town of Ronda. Records tell us that during the revolts
instigated by the moriscos - Moslem converts to Christianity - in the
16th century, the governor of Montejaque, the morisco Mohamed Idriz, saw
his life endangered by his refusal to support his rebel brothers, his
attitude being rewarded after the uprising had been crushed with land
and an annuity. Another event in the village’s history occurred
in 1810, during the War of Independence, when the guerrilla Jose de Aguilar
led 240 men from Montejaque, Benaojan, Atajate, Cortes de la Frontera
and Jimera de Libar to victory against near 600 French foot soldiers and
80 cavalry at the bridge over the River Gaduares. Montejaque is also famous
for having played host to generations of young Spaniards receiving their
Advanced Pre-military Training.
Malaga province
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