History
Prehistory and ancient history
The oldest archaeological remains found in the municipality of Maria de la Salut date from the pre-Talaiotic period: the burial cave of els Set pilars in ses Rotes Noves de Montblanc and the cave of la Caseta del Garriguer, also in Montblanc. The former has an irregular ground plan and remains from the Bronze Age have been found in the site. Furthermore, there are over twenty archaeological sites distributed around the 30.30 square kilometres of Maria de la Salut. Most archaeological remains are in a poor state of conservation due largely to the tilling of the land since medieval times. The best preserved remains of the Talaiotic period are situated in la pleta des Pujolet preserving part of the walls surrounding the settlement, el Velar fortified settlement and the naviform structures of ses Rotes Noves de Montblanc. The remains from this period are located on small hills, near good farming land and separated less than one kilometre from each other. A bronze figure, lamps and pottery from different phases of the Talaiotic period have been found in these sites. Several estates, including es Pujol and Deulosal, were probably built on Talaiotic remains. The round talaiot of ses Tarragones was probably part of a larger site, which nowadays is very difficult to locate.
Roman period
The remains of a rural settlement in sa Torre de na Gil date from the Roman period. A fragment of an amphora of the Republican period (2nd and 1st centuries BCE) and imperial pottery used to transport and store liquids and solids are among the discoveries. The human occupation of the site began quite probably in the 1st century CE. The site was fully established during the 2nd century CE. Pottery from the Islamic period is evidence of a later occupation. Several imperial coins and lead pieces for water channelling indicate that it was quite an important site, maybe even a Roman villa. Its proximity to the royal channel and the shelter of the Muro hills made it a perfect site to build a house. Remains of Roman pottery have also been found in els Gassons, Sa Pleta des Pujolet and Deulosal. In this site, which is situated on a hill and between the plains of Deulosal and es Rafal, researchers have found only Roman pottery. It is mainly common pottery and terra sigillata ware.
Islam
There is no information of this period. The municipality of Maria, together with the municipalities of Muro, Llubí, and Santa Margalida, formed the district of Muruh. Researchers agree that the population lived dispersed in farms and were grouped in clans. Numerous wells (qanats), such as sa Gruta de Roqueta, s´hort dén Vico (sa Bisbal), la font des Pujol or la font de mina de Son Roig, date from the Islamic period. Cereals and vineyard were the main crops. Olive trees were the dominant crop on the hills and poorer land. Researchers believe that the findings of Muslim pottery mixed with Roman items indicate that the Arabs reutilized structures of earlier periods.
Middle ages and modern period
The Muslim society did not offer any resistance to the Catalan expedition led by King Jaume I. During the Catalan conquest the Islamic society remained disorganized. The Catalan troops overcame the Muslims in a very short time. They were dispersed throughout the territory and were subjugated by the conquerors. In 1230 the entire island was in the hands of the Catalans. In the “repartiment” (distribution of land) that took place in 1232, Maria de la Salut and the entire district of Muruh was given to Ponç Hug, Count of Empúries. In the administrative division of the land, the municipality became part of the parish of Santa Margalida.
After the conquest (13th century), the municipality of Maria de la Salut was divided into two knightly estates —Maria i Roqueta—, the barony of the Count of Empúries, a portion of land owned by the church and the allodial estate of en Figuera. The village grew around the knightly estate of Maria. It was a fief of the Count of Empúries, who owned the tithe, laudemium, census and feudal rent rights to the land and houses of the knightly estate, as well as civil jurisdiction over land and its inhabitants. The Count employed mayors to enforce these obligations. The knightly estate of Maria was owned by Bernat de Vilanova until 1259. He sold the land to Guillem Robert, whose family owned the estate until the beginning of the 15th century. A cluster of houses with rights to exploit a well and the thicket was built in the estate, in the area of Son Puig. In 1410 the estate belonged to the doctor Joan de ses Eres, who documented and registered the estate. In 1430, the land was bought by Ramon Safortesa, who owned other knightly estates in Santa Margalida. In 1431, when he documented and registered the land, he obtained a confirmation of his jurisdiction. From then on, the jurisdiction and tax collection were enforced by the mayor and the curia that the Safortesa family had in Santa Margalida. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the Safortesa family tried to extend their jurisdiction to the “meri mixt imperí” and increase the feudal rent. Even though Maria de la Salut did not take part in the widespread revolt of the municipality of Santa Margalida against the Count in the mid 17th century, several “mariers” like Joan Font Roig and Antoni Quetgles “Pol” took part on behalf of the municipality. Joan Font i Roig, jury of the village of Santa Margalida, was murdered by the Count’s men. Antoni Quetgles, a bandit, was among the people who assaulted the Count’s mayor.
The crisis of the 14th and 15th century began with the social revolution caused by the rural revolt (1450-1453). The people of Maria de la Salut rose up against the oppression of the Safortesa family. In the 15th century the urban area was scarcely developed. It was formed by a group of houses around plaça de Dalt. The population lived dispersed in large estates. In the 16th century the village was formed by dispersed houses around the square, Son Mas, ses Corbades and the beginning of carrer Major. It consisted of 20 houses with approximately 100 inhabitants. In 1592 the increase in population led to the construction of a chapel. The presence of small landowners and day labourers brought with it an increase in family surnames: Bibiloni, Castelló, Cifre, Estelric, Femeflia, Garau, Gibert, Jordà, Mas, Ribes, Roig, Font, Garriga, etc.
In 1696 Maria de la Salut had a population of 650 inhabitants, a considerable increase if you compare it to the previous century. The urban area grew along carrer Major up to Son Negre, Son Estelat, carrer del Pou, Son Mas, ses Corbades and carrer de s’Arraval, towards the east. There was a cluster of 100 houses and the village was formed by the houses in the knightly estate of Maria.
In 1698 the people of Maria were allowed by the governor to meet in a council to deal with all the matters related to the litigation over the land they shared with the landowner of Roqueta. During the 18th century, it was clear that the village needed to be represented in the Santa Margalida Town Council, even though in previous centuries “mariers” like the Fontirroig family had already been part of the Town Council, but only as inhabitants from outside the town, which granted them the same status as the inhabitants of the estates. In 1710 the hamlet of Maria de la Salut managed thanks to the Royal Audience to gain representation in the Town Hall by way of an elected representative. Thus the representative could defend the people of Maria de la Salut against the overpayment of taxes and litigations. In later years, “oïdors de comptes” and “clavaris” were also appointed.
In 1718 the “Comú i primer paper segellat” regulating the government of Maria was established. The farming of almost 50 hectares of the land of la Mare de Déu for the town’s benefit began in 1722.
In the 18th century the church and the vicary were enlarged due to a large increase in population. In 1796 the elected representatives Miquel Gual and Joan Torelló began a long process to gain independence from Santa Margalida. Years went by before the municipal separation was authorized at the beginning of the 19th century with the arrival of the liberal governments.
Independent municipality
The legislative swings between 1813 and 1836 lead to the independence and the reannexation to Santa Margalida, depending on who was in power. Finally, the Cádiz Constitution declared that all the villages with more than 1,000 inhabitants could form a Town Hall. Maria began a long process to establish its own Town Hall. They succeeded once and for all in 1836.
During the 19th century, the population increased dramatically. Houses had to be enlarged and new houses built. In 1931 the land was apportioned, street lights were set up and two public wells were rebuilt in plaça de Baix. Several house building projects were developed which was a sign of growth.