The Roman villa of
Lacidulia or
Lacidulerium, situated in an estate near to the present village, has been traditionally considered the ancestor of Grazalema. Traditional theories emphasised a Berber settlement of the area, and thus a relation of the placename with the groups
Ṣaddīna and
Salīm. This theory failed to explain convincingly the early Latinate form
Çagrasalema/Zagrazalema, which has led to an alternative theory connecting the placename to
Ṣajrat Salāma (rock of
Salāma, another anthroponym). The settlement is presumed to have increased considerably its population in the 13th century under the
Nasrid sultanate. The territory passed to Christian control and was annexed to the territories of the
Marquis of Cádiz towards 1483–85.{{Cite journal|title=El poblamiento del Alto Guadalete durante el sultanato Nazarí|trans-title=The settlement of the Upper Guadalete during the Nasrid sultanate It became economically important as of the 17th century thanks to the drapery industry which produced the famous shawls of Grazalema. In the first years of the 19th century, during the
War of Independence, Grazalema suffered attacks and sieges from the Napoleonic troops who partially destroyed the village. ==See also==