L'Abdet is in the Valencian Community, in the province of Alicante. It is located in the Marina Baixa region, specifically in the Valley of Guadalest, along with Benimantell, Beniardà, Benifato, Confrides and, of course, Guadalest. L'Abdet belongs administratively to the nearby population of Confrides.
It is located at the foot of the mountain range of Serrella, at an altitude of 630 meters.
We immediately think of an Arab origin of the name that, evidently, has the air of a proper name of the various with Abd- or with names of the same root. But for this reason it is feared of being a victim of a superficial glance, not being explained then –et ending. We find no such thing in the lists of Arab place names. Its use with article induces a Roman-Mozarabic or Catalan family name. Indeed, we find an Arabic explanation more in accordance with the "toponomastic landscape" of this valley and with the radically Moorish past of this place.
The root abd was fully received in the Arabic spoken in all places, but with the meaning of "serving", "worship". In particular, it was a verb naturally derived from its active participle abid with the meaning of "hermitage". In more accessible dictionaries, it also appears as an adjective, meaning "worshiper", "devotee".
It is also known that the female abida is common. In the plural, it is abidat, that is to say "adoradoras", "devotas" (adoring/devout).
Therefore, we already have a complete phonetic explanation of our name, since it is a general norm of the Arab Hispanic and Maghreb vulgar the mute of the internal "i" followed by long vowel.
In the Moorish speech, it would have been provided with the article alabdat, from where it would be made Catalan as (a) labdat and finally l`Abdet.
It is not artificial this plural female adjective, since it is a repeated process in the Catalan language. The use of the female adjective "devout" with the sense of "hermitage", "sanctuary". The application of this adjective to the hermitages, already pointed in the fifteenth century: "... the old king retired to contemplation to a devout hermitage." (Tirant lo Blanc Ag I, 21).
L'Abdet has only three main streets: the upper street, the Middle street (Carrer d'en Mig) and the lower street (Carrer de Baix). We also highlight the slope street (Carrer de la Costereta.
The population has an Arab origin. In the year 1264 King James I delivered it to Vidal de Sarrià, who in 1271 succeeded his son Bernat de Sarrià, who ceded it in 1335 to Infant Pere. Later, the houses of Cardona and Ariza would own the manor.
In 1526, the Muslims rebelled against the conversion order commanded by Charles I. Due to permanent struggles against Castella, in 1609 they took arms again, joining the Moriscos refugees in the mountains of the Valley of Laguart until they were definitively expelled on that same year, leaving the only twelve houses left. Later, it was repopulated, and in the 18th century already had twenty-five houses, having the complete municipality of l'Abdet and Confrides 822 inhabitants by that time.
During the last two centuries the population declines slowly. During the period 1960-1970 it decreased by 17%, falling in the last decade by 50%. According to the "Spanish Archives in Network", specifically in the Nobility Section of the National Historical Archive, the following data appear (work done by Paco Bou):
In 1502 a title of possession was given to Alonso of Cardona, so Aljofra, Alafdet and Florent were given. We see here "Alafdet" instead of Abbet: possibly the Arabic name without evolving. In the same file we find again on August 16, 1429 the Title of Privilege of Alfonso V of Aragon for which he made merit to Hugo Cardona de Godales y Confrides (Alicante).
In 1488 the Title of Approval by the egregious Hugo de Cardona of the Syndicate of the state places (alamas of Benipexcar, El Real, Benicanena, Alquería nova and Valley of Confrides), celebrated in Beniopa (15 July) and Villa of the Castro of Guadalest (17 July) to charge to census in order to remove the present Counts of Prades, formerly Counts de Cardona, from their obligation to him, before Bartolomé Ballester, Notary Public of Valencia.
In 1445 the Title of the License that Hugo de Cardona, Lord of the Valley of Guadalest and Confrides, etc. gives to the Alamines, juries, Moorish Quarters and singular of its places so as to order syndic, claimants and solicitor of the census certain amount om 22 April, 1445, in front of Mateo Stefani, and Juan de Prades or Pratis to one with Pedro Navarro, His Connotario.
On July 26, 1445, the Title of the License granted on April 22, 1445 by Hugo de Cardona, Lord of the Guadalest Valley, Confrides, and others, to the Alamines, jury, Moorish quarters, and singular of these places, to spoil certain census, in front of Mateo Stephani, Public Notary from Valencia and all over the earth.
On October 21, 1445, the Title of Cargo or Recognition made by Abrahim Valenti, as trustee of the Moorish quarters of the Valley of Guadalest, Confrides, etc., in favor of the venerable and discreet Berenguer Moragues, presbyter, of 300 solid census, before Antonio Lopiz (Llopes), Public Notary from Valencia.
Without an exact date the Title of Possession by Hugo de Cardona of the possessions that Juan, King of Navarre, Duke of Nemorensis of Gandía had in the Valley of Guadalest and Castro of Confrides and its terms and limits (Alcaria de Alforra, Alcaria de Cela, etc.), in front of Miguel Vincencii, Notary Public.
On June 6, 1494, the Abstract Title of the Syndicate celebrated in the place of Beniopa, from the Valley of Guadalest, on June 17, 1447, by the Alhamas (Moorish Baths) and universities of the Valleys of Guadalest and Confrides, where power to Abrahim Valenti, Saracen, was given to spoil, in his name, 7,500 solid census, to Pedro Bataller, Public Notary from Valencia.
In 1429: Privilege of Alfonso V from Aragon at the mercy of Hugo Cardona from Guadalest and Confrides. Calatayud, August 16, 1429.
Two Cards from Alfonso V of Aragon sending possession of the Castle of Guadalest and village of Ondara to Hugo de Cardona. Viana 18 and 19 of September of 1425. Testament of 1579. - Different papers referring to this possession among them a transfer of the inauguration of Hugo (1425-1509, parchment); Another possession of Juan Cardona, the Blanca de Navarra’s son (1471, parchment) and transfers of the writings of the agreement that mediated between King Juan I of Navarre and the aforementioned Cardona, on the change of Guadalest and Confrides Por Cam .. ..? And Calasanz (1429-1431, 16th century)
The Young Festivity
The last week of Easter, in honor of Saint Vicente Ferrer. It is traditional the bonfire at the church doors.
The Married Festivity l or Major Festivities:
On the third weekend in August, in honor of the Virgin of Sorrows. Its main act is the flower offering. In daylight htere are parades, religious celebrations, popular meals in the square, Valencian ball games, cultural events and children's activities; In the evenings there is an open-air dance.
The Church in honor of Saint Vicente Ferrer.
Today one of the things that most attract our attention is the grape harvest. Formerly in the villages of the Valley of Guadalest the cultivation of the vine and with this the elaboration of wine and raisins was very widespread, but with the plague of the phylloxera this tradition was lost and today only small vineyards remain in the whole valley. In El Abdet, Ernesto Santacreu grows the small vineyard Cabero and produces the red wine Señorío de Santacreu of excellent quality for his own consumption.
Town Hall in Confrides
1, Abajo Street (Lower Str)
Post Code.: 03517 Confrides (Alicante)
Telephone: 965 885 804
Fax: 965 885 896
e-mail: info@confrides.es
Web: http://www.confrides.es