The first documentary evidence of Humanes dates back to 1141 when Alfonso VII donated the Villa to Pedro Brimonis, the first Lord of Humanes. His successor, Pelayo Pérez, played a major role in some historical times of the Villa. In 1173 he granted the Village Charter and three years later donated the Villa of Humanes, under a set of conditions, to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (or, “of the Hospital”), a religious order that was founded in Jerusalem in the 11th century.
Despite this donation, the Order did not exercise its lordship over the Villa because it was delivered to Count Fernando Núñez de Lara in 1183, who retained the rights over Humanes until 1193.
Humanes became a part of St. John heritage in the 12th century, and became one of the order’s sources of income. The exact moment or the reasons why the Order of St. John left Humanes are unknown.
The key figure in the transformation process was López de Ayala “El Tuerto”, who received the lordship of Humanes from Juan II in 1445. With this concession the Ayalas were given the title of Counts of Fuensalida, having privileges such as civil and criminal jurisdiction, the election of public officials, collecting large amounts of taxes and ownership of most of the land, which was leased out for farming. One of Pedro López de Ayala’s descendants gradually lost the family’s possessions in favour of the inhabitants of the town.
In 1500 it passed to the hands of the eldest son of the Marchioness of Villa Sierra and in 1620 it is recorded as belonging to the estate of the Count of Fuensalida.
In 1833, during a process of adjusting provincial borders, Humanes changed from belonging to Toledo and became a part of Madrid.
It was based on a farming economy until around the end of the 18th century growing wheat, barley, oats, rye, chickpeas, green beans, carob beans, grapes, olives and vegetable produce. The products were taken to Madrid and sold at the main markets. Livestock farming with cattle, swine and some flocks of sheep, was also an important part of the economy. Local industry was limited to the production of oil, wine and bread. Grain, meat, milk and wool was exported commercially.
The population remained stable throughout four centuries of history until the 70’s when it started to grow from 1200 people mainly working in agriculture, to continue its gradual growth.
