Torre Bermeja: A Medieval Hilltop Fortification in Mancha Real
Site at a Glance
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Spain
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Crown of Castile
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Fort
On this page4 sections
History
Torre Bermeja is a medieval fortification on the highest part of a hill in Mancha Real, Jaén province, Spain. The Chronicles of Constable Iranzo connect it with renewed conflict and Nasrid raids in 1470. The Nasrids were a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Emirate of Granada in southern Iberia.
In August, Miguel Lucas de Iranzo, a 15th-century Castilian nobleman who held the senior royal military office of constable, received warnings of planned raids into Jaén territory. He secretly went to Pegalajar Castle with 500 or 600 cavalry and a large number of infantry to await the raiders. No incursion took place then; the Nasrid forces entered the territory three months later than planned.
Remains
The site occupies the hill’s highest ground. Its remains comprise an irregular fortification and a quadrangular tower.
Fortification and tower
The tower is badly deteriorated, with only its foundations surviving. Ceramic material from the fortification belongs to an undated medieval phase.
Ceramic finds
Roman-period pottery collected on the slope includes a roof tile and a few fragments of terra sigillata, a fine Roman pottery with a glossy red surface.
Nearby sites
Torre Bermeja, Torrechantre, Torremocha, and Peñaflor Castle lie almost in a line. Torrechantre is 5.2 km away, while Torre de la Pedregosa lies farther off.
