Los jesuitas y la hacienda «La Marquesa"una iniciativa colonizadora en el secano litoral del Bajo Segura (1694-1767)

Résumé

The house called "La Marquesa': located in the dry coastal area of Bajo Segura, Alicante, is a prime example of the agricultural colonialisation process that took place during the period called “Antiguo Régimen” (Ancien Regime). The “Compañía de Jesús” colonised this area, after they had inherited a vast property formerly owned by the Marquesado de Rafal, in order to set themselves up in Orihuela at the end of the 17th century. The present investigation analyses this evolution from the time “Compañía de Jesús” first owned the land until it was given away in 1767. During this period of time, the land was divided into plots and given to people in order to maximize the profit of the land and set up a village. Due to its location near the coastline, it was an area threatened by the Corsican people.