Ontígola

Ontígola is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2023 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 4926 inhabitants in 2023.

Ontígola
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Ontígola Location in Spain
Coordinates: 40°0′20″N 3°34′23″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Province	Toledo
Comarca	Mesa de Ocaña
Judicial district	Ocaña
Government
• Alcalde	Gracia Sánchez Ruiz (2015)
Area
• Total	41.49 km2 (16.02 sq mi)
Elevation	602 m (1,975 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	4,279
• Density	100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Ontigoleño, ña Orejano, na Aurelanense, sa
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	45340
Dialing code	925
Website	Official website

Etymology

The name "Ontígola" is derived from the Latin FŎNTĬCŬLA, a diminutive of FŎNTIS. The original Latin translates to "fountain", or "spring of water which sprouts from the earth." The name appears in various forms throughout history: Fonticulam, Fontigula, Antigola, Hontigola

In this township is the ancient Roman town of Aurelia, current Oreja, an uninhabited today. Oreja played an important role in the defensive line Islamic of Tagus River in the 11th century and especially during the s. XII.

During the War of Independence, the Nov. 18, 1809 took place the battle of Ontígola, a clash near the town among the Spanish troops under the command of Juan Carlos de Aréizaga, and French. The latter refused to Spanish; the most significant death was the General Paris, who died at the hands of Cape Vincent Manzano, on the French side. In the Spanish side Angel Saavedra died, Duke of Rivas. Nicomedes Pastor Diaz and Francisco de Cardenas describes well the end of the battle: "He closed the night sad and black: confused disorder ours in Ocaña retired to where was because the bulk of the French army and their general stayed in Antígola,they left the battlefield strewn with bodies".