Mora Embassy

We have reached the last day of the festivities; today the festival-goer has not gotten up early; he has had a quiet lunch with his group; he has put a towel around his neck, put on a glove, taken the arquebus and headed to the start of the event.

At eleven in the morning the twelve groups of the Moorish side, led by their captain, ambassador and standard-bearer, meet at the Canterería, at the level of the wash house; and, preceded by the pennants of each of them, the shooters are ready to begin their thunderous parade; they will cross the Pont Vell -Old Bridge-, go up the Plaça de Baix and cross the Porxet until they reach the castle of Ontinyent, where the flag of the Cross flies.

At the same time, the Christian army had begun its march, camped in the northern area of the Santa María bridge; it would do the same, crossing the aforementioned bridge and going down the Regall, to meet the Moors at the foot of the fortress.

The silent blast of a trumpet silences the arquebuses; a Moorish horseman crosses the square at high speed; at the foot of the castle he hands the sentry a parchment urging the surrender of the town; the Christian captain reads it to himself and publicly tears it up amid general jubilation and the postman leaves the square. The Christian sentry, from the battlements, introduces the embassy, ending with some beautiful verses, as well as a whole declaration of intentions, which Cervino wrote one hundred and sixty-four years ago and which I cannot help but transcribe for you:


(Speaking to the town of Ontinyent)

Come today to see how in joyful mockery,

Remembering the value of our parents,

Some of us are Christians, others Moors,

And all of us are equal in loving you, my country!


The sound of trumpets announces the entry into the square of the Moorish ambassador, accompanied by the captain and standard-bearer, all of them on horseback, followed by a brilliant escort.

The Moorish ambassador tries to persuade the Christian captain to hand over the town to him through words. First he tries to do so with reasons that prove that the castle belongs to him; then he offers pacts and gifts; finally he resorts to fear and threats. None of his attempts help him to achieve his desired goal and, as could not be otherwise, it is weapons that put an end to the conflict. The arquebuses spit fire, while captains and ambassadors engage in knife combat. Victory goes to the Moorish side, who raise the Crescent flag on the battlements of the castle.

This act was declared an asset of intangible cultural interest by DECREE 4/2019, of January 18, of the Consell. The declaration is registered in the First Section of the General Inventory of Valencian Cultural Heritage.