 In the later stages of the reconquista, Caudete was at the focus of tensions between Castile and Aragon, since James I of Aragon conquered it from the Moors though it should have been reserved to Castile under the treaties of Tudilén and Cazorla.There were ongoing disputes between Caudete and nearby Villena over control of the Alhorines Valley, an important wheat-growing area.Until the 19th century the dominant language in the municipality was Valencian Catalan with some aspects of Aragonese.