Portell de Morella, in Els Ports, was a hamlet of Morella and gained town status in 1691. It is one of the municipalities not affected by the expulsion of the Moriscos.
Middle Ages
Around 1086 it belonged to the taifa of Lleida. When Morella received its charter in 1233, Portell became a hamlet of its district. In 1234 James I gave it to the Order of the Temple. At the end of the 13th century a long fight to become independent of Morella began, and in 1358, during the war between Castile and Peter the Ceremonious, it gained temporary independence that was revoked after the king's victory. In 1397 it had 157 households. In 1410 it backed James of Urgell, while Morella backed Ferdinand of Antequera.
Early modern period
In 1520 it joined the Germanías rebels and suffered royal reprisals. The expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609 did not affect it. In 1691 it won independence from Morella and Charles II granted it town status. In 1916 its name changed to Portell de Morella.
Population
It had 609 inhabitants in 1787 and 1,086 in 1910. In 2025 the INE records 155.
Timeline
- 1234
- James I gives Portell to the Templars.
- 1358
- Temporary independence from Morella.
- 1520
- Joins the Germanías.
- 1691
- Charles II grants town status.
- 1916
- Renamed Portell de Morella.
Text written by Zona Zero TV from public sources; early dates vary between authors. Sources: Portell de Morella (Hispanopedia, basado en Wikipedia, CC BY-SA).
Checked on 1/11/2026.
