This weekend – 10th & 11th October – the village of Mijas will be recreating the Napoleonic invasion of 1808, a historic event when the villagers had to defend their homes from Napoleon troops.
Mijas Town Hall has been organising this event since 2009 together with the Torrijos 1831 Cultural & Historic Association; its uniqueness has certainly increased its popularity since then!
To add a little more flavour to the events, this year, the local artisans and business associations have decided to contribute to the activities by putting on an Artisans Market offering all sorts 19th century themed goodies including: soaps, crystal and glass products, leather goods and Mexican jewellery which, in those times, were shipped to Spain from the New World.
The local business association will also install a themed bar next to the market. All the people working on the market stalls and in the bar will be dressed in traditional costumes from the early 19th century, adding to the events originality.
In order to recreate scenes of the invasion by Napoleon’s troops, the event will also have a dozen riders on horseback (from the Peña Mijeña) and approximately 40 members of the Torrijos 1831 Cultural & Historic Association who will be in charge of acting out the different scenes of the invasion.
Times of the recreations:
Saturday 10th October at 8:30pm in the ‘Plaza de la Libertad’: A representation of the Málaga regiment’s retreat into Mijas and a reading from the mayor alerting villagers of the arrival of Napoleon’s troops.
Sunday 11th October from 11:30am: You’ll be able to watch the following recreations:
- The arrival of the French troops
- A skirmish between French soldiers and the local resistance
- The capture of local soldiers and British troops – included the infamous General Blayney – in the failed attempt to take Sohail Castle, which in those days belonged to Mijas.
- The arrival of General Ballesteros and the consequent departure of the French troops from Mijas
Visitors will also be able to enjoy traditional flamenco shows before each of the recreations and the organisers will also hold a contest to choose the best costumes worn by men, women and children taking part in the event. The winner will be announced at 6:00pm on Sunday.
“We musn’t forget that Mijas was a key location in this conflict due to it’s privileged topographic location and because it supplied around 90 young men to the Malaga Regiment to fight against the French troops. We’d like to thank the Town Hall for their support in organising this recreation. Without them it would have been impossible. – Esteban Alcántara
