VIOLENCE AND CAPTIVITY IN THE SOUTH OF THE KINGDOM OF VALENCIA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 15TH CENTURY: ELCHE AS AN OBSERVATORY OF A BORDER VILLAGE

Abstract

Taking as reference the area of Orihuela’s Gobernación and based on the municipal records of Elche of the first quarter of the XVth century, guarded in the Municipal Historical Archive of Elche (AHME), the elements related to violence and captivity of the frontier town of Elche have been analysed. From the first point of a border concept, we have taken a specific tour along the local conflict between Christians, the Muslim danger and the Brotherhood between Christians and Moors, also several specific episodes have been recreated, the systems of captives’ redemption have been analysed and the methods of defense and control of territory have also been described.