This Friday, the IX Jornadas de Historia de Daimiel resumed with three presentations dedicated to various episodes of local history. Alberto Celis Pozuelo, Jesús Gutiérrez Torres, and Eva María Jesús Morales discussed the evolution of births from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the story of a local resident during the Moroccan War, and everyday resistance against the Napoleonic occupation, respectively.
The conference, held at the Museo Comarcal, focused on the history of Daimiel through the lenses of demography, biographical research, and the experiences of the population during wartime. The session began with Alberto Celis Pozuelo's talk titled “Nacer en Daimiel (1565-1900): del Antiguo Régimen a la transición demográfica.” His research, based on baptism records from the parish of San Pedro, provided insights into the evolution of births in the locality over more than three centuries. Celis outlined the various stages during this period, from the demographic challenges of the 17th century to the recovery experienced in the 18th and the significant growth of the 19th century.
Next, Jesús Gutiérrez Torres presented “El superviviente de Coba Darsa: contexto, suceso y reconocimiento a un daimieleño durante la guerra de Marruecos (1924),” a study that recovers the story of Casiano Alegre Corniel and his connection to military events in North Africa. His work addressed both the historical context of the events and the recognition received by this Daimiel resident.
The final presentation of the day was given by Eva María Jesús Morales, titled “La gesta cotidiana durante la invasión napoleónica de Daimiel: formas encubiertas de insurgencia y subsistencia.” This talk incorporated a perspective focused on daily life during the Napoleonic occupation, with particular attention to forms of resistance and survival strategies employed by the population during this historical context.
These three investigations offered different approaches to the past of Daimiel, thereby contributing to a greater understanding of the social and demographic evolution of the locality, the involvement of its residents in significant historical events, and the experiences of those who lived through periods of conflict.
The IX Jornadas de Historia de Daimiel will continue on Thursday, 19 November, with discussions on Carlism during Franco's dictatorship, living conditions in Daimiel between 1940 and 1952 marked by rationing and the black market, and the lawsuits of nobility against the Daimiel council, featuring speakers Ángel López-Tercero Astillero, María Ángeles Sánchez Baeza, and Daniel Carrillo de Albornoz y Alonso.
