Peter Such was born and grew up in Norfolk and studied Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, where he completed a doctorate in 1978. He spent most of his professional career at Sherborne School in Dorset: he was Head of Modern Languages for 25 years and subsequently was Director of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Sherborne School and Sherborne School for Girls. In 2011 he retired with his wife Sylvia to the village of El Poleo, situated in the municipal area of Priego de Córdoba. They played an active part in the life of the community and from 2017 to 2023 Peter was mayor of the village. Peter has continued to carry out research into medieval Spanish literature and history and he has published translations of four medieval Spanish texts.

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of maps; Chronology; 1. Beginnings; 2. Madīnat Bāguh; 3. Christendom Victorious; 4. The Forging of Priego; 5. Baroque Splendour; 6. Poverty and Prosperity, Reform and Reaction; 7. The Tempestuous Decade; 8. Colossus with Feet of Clay; 9. Meeting New Challenges; Postscript: Priego, Past, Present and Future; Select Bibliography; Index to Names of People and Places

Peter Such was born and grew up in Norfolk and studied Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, where he completed a doctorate in 1978. He spent most of his professional career at Sherborne School in Dorset: he was Head of Modern Languages for 25 years and subsequently was Director of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Sherborne School and Sherborne School for Girls. In 2011 he retired with his wife Sylvia to the village of El Poleo, situated in the municipal area of Priego de Córdoba. They played an active part in the life of the community and from 2017 to 2023 Peter was mayor of the village. Peter has continued to carry out research into medieval Spanish literature and history and he has published translations of four medieval Spanish texts.

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of maps; Chronology; 1. Beginnings; 2. Madīnat Bāguh; 3. Christendom Victorious; 4. The Forging of Priego; 5. Baroque Splendour; 6. Poverty and Prosperity, Reform and Reaction; 7. The Tempestuous Decade; 8. Colossus with Feet of Clay; 9. Meeting New Challenges; Postscript: Priego, Past, Present and Future; Select Bibliography; Index to Names of People and Places

Peter Such was born and grew up in Norfolk and studied Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge, where he completed a doctorate in 1978. He spent most of his professional career at Sherborne School in Dorset: he was Head of Modern Languages for 25 years and subsequently was Director of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Sherborne School and Sherborne School for Girls. In 2011 he retired with his wife Sylvia to the village of El Poleo, situated in the municipal area of Priego de Córdoba. They played an active part in the life of the community and from 2017 to 2023 Peter was mayor of the village. Peter has continued to carry out research into medieval Spanish literature and history and he has published translations of four medieval Spanish texts.

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of maps; Chronology; 1. Beginnings; 2. Madīnat Bāguh; 3. Christendom Victorious; 4. The Forging of Priego; 5. Baroque Splendour; 6. Poverty and Prosperity, Reform and Reaction; 7. The Tempestuous Decade; 8. Colossus with Feet of Clay; 9. Meeting New Challenges; Postscript: Priego, Past, Present and Future; Select Bibliography; Index to Names of People and Places