History of Molina de Segura
The municipality of Molina de Segura occupies an area of 170 km² and is the capital of the Vega Media del Segura region. It is the fourth most populous municipality in the Murcia region, with a total of 71,890 inhabitants according to data from the year 2019.
The geographical location of Molina de Segura, in the middle of a crossroads and surrounded by fertile lands, has marked its settlement since time immemorial.
The oldest archaeological remains found in Molina de Segura date from the Middle Paleolithic (between 95,000 B.C. and 35,000 B.C.) and are associated with Homo neanderthalensis.
The Romans took advantage of this strategic situation to build roads and a fortress, whose location was in what is the Old Church. During the Roman period, the Iberian peninsula was divided into two provinces: Hispania Citerior (east coast, from the Pyrenees to Cartagena, with its capital being Tarraco, now Tarragona) and Hispania Ulterior (the western part of the Iberian peninsula, with its capital being Corduba, current Cordoba). Molina de Segura belonged to the province of Hispania Citerior.
Later, during the Arab era, Molina de Segura was linked to the Umayyad culture, the Islamic dynasty that entered Murcia in 896.
Later, during the Arab era, Molina de Segura was linked to the Umayyad culture, the Islamic dynasty that entered Murcia in 896.
Alonso Yanez Fajardo received Molina de Segura in a lordship regime in the year 1395. In the following years, Molina de Segura passed successively to the Fajardo heirs. In the 16th century, this family was recognized with the Marquesado of Los Velez, a noble title granted by Queen Juana I of Castilla to Pedro Fajardo y Chacon, first Marquis of Los Velez, in 1507.
The 17th century brought great mishaps for the inhabitants of Molina de Segura. Among them was the epidemic crisis by the plague of the year 1648 and the flood of the Segura River only three years later (1651), which left orchards and crops flooded. There was a consequent economic and demographic crisis.
All these misfortunes disappeared in the 19th century, which was very prosperous and marked great growth. At this time occurred the deportation of the Jesuits who’d had in their possession relevant properties within Molina de Segura. This century marked the end of the feudal system, which granted authority to the lord over the lands.
During the 20th century, important vegetable canning factories were developed in Molina de Segura, promoting great economic and demographic growth. Molina de Segura went from 8,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 20th century to close to 72,000 today. Currently, Molina de Segura is one of the most industrialized cities in southeast Spain.
