Martos is a city in the province of Jaén in the autonomous community of Andalusia in south-central Spain. It has a population of 24271 inhabitants, making Martos the fifth largest municipality in the province. The city is located on a western peak of the

Sierra Jabalcuz Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range i ...

mountain range. It belongs to the metropolitan Area of Jaén, of which it is considered to be the second most important city after the capital. Its economy is based on agriculture, in particular the cultivation of the olive tree. Also important are various industries, especially those related to the treatment of plastic.

History

The city has been linked to the Roman settlement of ''Colonia Augusta Gemella'', and starting in the 8th century was ruled by the Moors under various

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

ic states for over 500 years. In

1225 Year 1225 ( MCCXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Mongol Empire * Autumn – Subutai is assigned a new campaign by Genghis Khan against the Ta ...

, King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon captured the city from the Moors and incorporated it into his kingdom. During the Middle Ages, Martos became a strategic place, and its defences were reinforced with the construction of numerous fortifications in the city. At the end of the

19th century The 19th (nineteenth) century began on 1 January 1801 ( MDCCCI), and ended on 31 December 1900 ( MCM). The 19th century was the ninth century of the 2nd millennium. The 19th century was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was abolis ...

and beginning of the

20th century The 20th (twentieth) century began on January 1, 1901 ( MCMI), and ended on December 31, 2000 ( MM). The 20th century was dominated by significant events that defined the modern era: Spanish flu pandemic, World War I and World War II, nuclear ...

, Martos underwent significant economic and urban development (reflected in the city's architecture), in large part due to the wealth derived from the industrial production of olive oil. Martos thus became one of the most prosperous cities of eastern Andalusia.

Ecclesiastical history

Former diocese of Tucci

Around 250 AD, a bishopric was established in present Martos under the name Tucci, on territory from the suppressed

Diocese of Iliturgi In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

. It was a

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...

of the Metropolitan

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sevilla The Archdiocese of Seville is part of the Catholic Church in Seville, Spain. The Diocese of Seville was founded in the 3rd century. It was raised to the level of an archdiocese in the 4th century. The current archbishop is José Ángel Saiz Mene ...

. In

350 __NOTOC__ Year 350 (Roman numerals, CCCL) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Nigrinianus (or, less frequentl ...

, it lost territory to establish the

Diocese of Cástulo Castulo (Latin: ''Castulo''; Iberian language, Iberian: ''Kastilo'') was an Iberian peninsula, Iberian town and bishopric (now Latin titular see located in the Andalusian Jaén (Spanish province), province of Jaén, in south-central Spain, near mo ...

(now also a titular see), which it regained at that bishopric's suppression around

400 __NOTOC__ Year 400 ( CD) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Stilicho and Aurelianus (or, less frequently, year 11 ...

. In 715, it was suppressed to establish the

Diocese of Beaza In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

. Recorded bishops are * Rogato (675? – 688?) * Teudisclo (693? – ?)

Economy

Olives still play an important part in the local economy, but industry an increasingly big part as well, including plastics, the auto industry, metallurgy, the construction of roads, etc. Many local firms support French multinational

Valeo Valeo is a French global automotive supplier headquartered in France, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange ( CAC-40 Index). It supplies a wide range of products to automakers and the aftermarket. The Group employs 113,600 people in 33 countries wo ...

’s local production.

Festivals

Among the numerous festivals carried out in the city it is necessary to highlight: * Holy week: Considered of tourist interest of Andalusia. * San Bartolomé's festival: Principal festival. August *

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

*San Amador: On May 5 *Virgin of the Villa: On the first Tuesday after Holy Week * Saint Martha: On July 29 *Romería of the Virgin of the Victory: last weekend of May *Festival of the olive: on December 8

Sports

The most important club is

Martos CD Martos Club Deportivo is a Spanish football club, founded in 1970 and based in Martos. The club competes in División de Honor Andaluza, holding home games at the ''Estadio Municipal Ciudad de Martos'', with a capacity of 5,000 people. It's consid ...

References

* "Martos". '' Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved June 22, 2005.

Sources and external links

WikiSatellite view of Martos at WikiMapia

{{authority control Municipalities in the Province of Jaén (Spain)