The defiant castle of Mula: A centuries-old fortress constructed to subdue

Located in Mula, Spain, the Castillo de Los Vélez is a medieval-Renaissance castle, built by the Marqués de los Vélez at the beginning of the 16th century to subdue the Murcian town of Mula following a town revolt in 1520. Historical records suggest that a fortress existed in Mula during the 12th century, as mentioned by Al-Idrisi, a traveler from that period. Alfonso X, a later king, also noted the fortress in his writings. Latterly, in the 15th century, the fortress in Mula was fortified with an albacar, northern wall, and walls protecting the aljibes (cisterns) and the urban nucleus, with two parishes.

The Marqués de los Vélez constructed a new castle to ensure the town’s submission. To bypass the royal decree, which forbade the construction of new fortresses in Spain, the Marqués placed a false Roman inscription on a tower. The inscription, written in Latin, reads: 'Marcius Petrus Fagardus Primus hanc turrim erexit, marcente arcem olim a Antonino Augusto Pio structam reaedificavit, inmperante Carolo Caesare IIIII. Hispaniarum Rege domino suo'.

However, no evidence indicates that Augustus Pius ever visited Mula or constructed a Roman castle there. The construction of the current castle began in 1524, according to an inscription present on another lápida. The architect of the castle is believed to be Luis Fajardo, a possible master builder for the house of los Vélez. The castle contains two gates, one of which can be accessed through the upper part of the medieval Muslim wall and towers, as well as an ancient drawbridge.

The castle encompasses four distinct elements: a keep tower, a central nave with a vaulted ceiling, an annex to the nave, and a cistern. The construction of the castle took place in four phases. Today, the Castillo de Los Vélez serves as a popular tourist attraction in Mula, showcasing the town’s rich Spanish history. The castle is currently owned by the Beltrán de Lis and Pidal family.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons