Almoradí
D. José Montesinos Pérez Martínez (1745-1828), between 1791 and 1816 he wrote the "Compendium Histórico Oriolano", a famous manuscript that, after many vicissitudes, is now at the Caja Rural Central Orihuela. It is include the "Crónica Suma de la Ilustre Universidad Regia de Almoradí", which discusses the origins and history of the town.
It should be mentioned that the work of Montesinos has proved to be a mix of history, legend and myth (though no less beautiful), we can not determine their level of accuracy given their characteristics.
According to this manuscript Almoradí was established in 1196 BC by the legendary King Brigo, and named Amarión. It belonged to the province of Contestania, forming part of a primitive people of Spain (probably of Iberian origin) that was settled in the province of Alicante.
Later was dominated by Greeks and Carthaginians, but it was the Romans who left clear traces of their passage through Amarión. Later it passed to belong to the Visigoths (when they expelled the Romans), depending on the case, Almoradí of Teodomiro.
In the year 713 A.D, Teodomiro was defeated by the Muslim troops of Abd al-Aziz, in a fight that lasted twenty months. Despite their defeat, the Duke was a favourable treatment under which the whole south region of the province continued forming a small Christian- State called Tudmir- with certain vassalage concern to the emirs-, while practically the entire peninsula was under Muslim domination. This autonomy was preserved until the early ninth century when the Abderraman imposed the Muslim domain.
This domain was extended until 1226, when James I the Conqueror dominated Almoradí and expelled the Moors passing our town to have complete dependence on Orihuela. The legend says that the night before to the great battle that faced James I the Conqueror with the Moors who ruled the area and took placed on November 30, there were seen on the mosque an enormous golden arms symbol of San Andrés's martyrdom. Informed about this the King D. Jaime ordered the assault of the walls and reconquered Almoradi, remembering the festivity of this day (St. Andrew).