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Castellote

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Castellote

The Maestrazgo Gateway
Carlista

The door of the Carlist Maestrazgo

The image of Castellote, a town lying on a steep slope and crowned by the figure of the castle, is the very image of the Carlist resistance in Maestrazgo. Its castle was the strong point of the Carlist frontier in its northern part. This was the main obstacle that the liberal armies had to overcome in 1840 before launching the definitive assault on Morella. Gateway between Lower Aragon and Maestrazgo, the possession of this fortified enclave assured Cabrera the control of a large territory.

Castellote, Carlist Wars Territory
Ilustración Territorio Guerras carlistas

© José Luis Cano

Cabrera's demands

At the border

The capture of Castellote

The Groc War

Before the end of 1834, on December 23, the “priest Cabrera” went to Castellote and demanded 100 rations of bread, two arrobas of brandy, one of cod and 300 duros. The municipal authorities resisted.

From 1834 onwards, the pressure from the parties became very intense. There were great demands for rations, clothing and money, assaults on post offices and violence against the liberal authorities.

The capture of the castle of Castellote is the key episode in the final assault of General Espartero to Maestrazgo. When Espartero’s troops arrived in front of the town they found the old medieval castle greatly improved by the Carlists, and the black flag hoisted announcing their will to resist.

Castellote lived very closely the episodes of political violence that followed the end of the war. Its status as the head of the judicial district placed it at the head of the persecution of the guerrilla known as El Groc del Forcall who moved through the area.

It was becoming too expensive to appease the Carlists by giving in to their demands. However, Cabrera’s reaction was categorical: he took the mayor and one of the main landowners of the town prisoner. He held them for three hours until the order became effective. Before leaving, they threatened the people with the death penalty if they reported.

The town council struggled to maintain its connection with the government by using oral parties, but it was increasingly difficult to maintain loyalty to the queen. Many of the neighbors, and not always the younger ones, were joining the faction. Little by little, Castellote was engulfed by the Carlist insurrection. The population became part of the line of fortresses that perimetered the rebel territory. Customs officers controlled the passage of men and goods.

The fortification was planned around the castle, linked to the chapel of San Cristóbal by a loopholes and defenses in the chapel of San Lázaro. The bombardment from the hermitage of San Macario was indiscriminate and lasted four days. The Carlists did not surrender and the fortress had to be taken by assault. They capitulated on March 24, 1840, after being hit by 3404 cannon shots.

The initiative was taken by the military commander of Maestrazgo Juan Villalonga. In March 1844, the Maestrazgo was declared in a state of blockade, closing “all the farmhouses, hermitages and other country buildings” and prohibiting the transport of food and even the movement of people without passports. The pressure exerted on the rebels produced its result. Tomás Peñarrocha, the Groc del Forcall, fell in an ambush at Mas de Torres, in the municipality of Las Parras de Castellote, and died on June 29, 1844.

The Templar castle of Castellote (12th century) was rebuilt and became the first line of rebel defence in the First Carlist War.
The Templar castle of Castellote (12th century) was rebuilt and became the first line of rebel defence in the First Carlist War.
Supplying rebel troops put enormous economic pressure on the territory throughout the war.
Supplying rebel troops put enormous economic pressure on the territory throughout the war.
In the Maestrazgo region, getting the artillery to the site of the battles always posed serious dificulty due to the orography of the country.
In the Maestrazgo region, getting the artillery to the site of the battles always posed serious dificulty due to the orography of the country.
With the end of the war, the fighting did not end, but continued in actions that combined politics with banditry.
With the end of the war, the fighting did not end, but continued in actions that combined politics with banditry.

Cabrera's demands

Before the end of 1834, on December 23, the “priest Cabrera” went to Castellote and demanded 100 rations of bread, two arrobas of brandy, one of cod and 300 duros. The municipal authorities resisted.

It was becoming too expensive to appease the Carlists by giving in to their demands. However, Cabrera’s reaction was categorical: he took the mayor and one of the main landowners of the town prisoner. He held them for three hours until the order became effective. Before leaving, they threatened the people with the death penalty if they reported.

The Templar castle of Castellote (12th century) was rebuilt and became the first line of rebel defence in the First Carlist War.
The Templar castle of Castellote (12th century) was rebuilt and became the first line of rebel defence in the First Carlist War.

At the border

From 1834 onwards, the pressure from the parties became very intense. There were great demands for rations, clothing and money, assaults on post offices and violence against the liberal authorities.

The town council struggled to maintain its connection with the government by using oral parties, but it was increasingly difficult to maintain loyalty to the queen. Many of the neighbors, and not always the younger ones, were joining the faction. Little by little, Castellote was engulfed by the Carlist insurrection. The population became part of the line of fortresses that perimetered the rebel territory. Customs officers controlled the passage of men and goods.

Supplying rebel troops put enormous economic pressure on the territory throughout the war.
Supplying rebel troops put enormous economic pressure on the territory throughout the war.

The capture of Castellote

The capture of the castle of Castellote is the key episode in the final assault of General Espartero to Maestrazgo. When Espartero’s troops arrived in front of the town they found the old medieval castle greatly improved by the Carlists, and the black flag hoisted announcing their will to resist.

The fortification was planned around the castle, linked to the chapel of San Cristóbal by a loopholes and defenses in the chapel of San Lázaro. The bombardment from the hermitage of San Macario was indiscriminate and lasted four days. The Carlists did not surrender and the fortress had to be taken by assault. They capitulated on March 24, 1840, after being hit by 3404 cannon shots.

In the Maestrazgo region, getting the artillery to the site of the battles always posed serious dificulty due to the orography of the country.
In the Maestrazgo region, getting the artillery to the site of the battles always posed serious dificulty due to the orography of the country.

The Groc War

Castellote lived very closely the episodes of political violence that followed the end of the war. Its status as the head of the judicial district placed it at the head of the persecution of the guerrilla known as El Groc del Forcall who moved through the area.

The initiative was taken by the military commander of Maestrazgo Juan Villalonga. In March 1844, the Maestrazgo was declared in a state of blockade, closing “all the farmhouses, hermitages and other country buildings” and prohibiting the transport of food and even the movement of people without passports. The pressure exerted on the rebels produced its result. Tomás Peñarrocha, the Groc del Forcall, fell in an ambush at Mas de Torres, in the municipality of Las Parras de Castellote, and died on June 29, 1844.

With the end of the war, the fighting did not end, but continued in actions that combined politics with banditry.
With the end of the war, the fighting did not end, but continued in actions that combined politics with banditry.
TURISMO MAESTRAZGO logotipo

Comarca del Maestrazgo • C/ Las Tres Baylias • 44140 Cantavieja (Teruel)
Phone: 964 185 242 • [email protected]

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