Conquest of Majorca

The conquest of the island of Majorca was an important event led by King James I of Aragon between the years 1229 and 1231. This battle was for the Roman Catholic kingdoms, and King James made a promise with leaders to share conditions fairly for everyone who wanted to join.

King James planned to land his soldiers near the Port de Pollença, but strong winds pushed him south instead. He finally reached land late at night on September 10, 1229, close to today’s tourist spot Santa Ponsa in Calviá. Although the main city, called Madina Mayurqa (now Palma de Mallorca), fell quickly, some people still resisted for three years in the mountains.

After winning the island, King James shared the land with the nobles who helped him, following a book called the Llibre del Repartiment or Book of Distribution. He also later took control of Ibiza by 1235, and Menorca had already given up in 1231. During this time, he created the Kingdom of Majorca, which became separate from the Crown of Aragon until another king, Pedro IV, took it back later.

Background

Majorca was a busy place for traders from many areas around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Perpignan, Maghreb, Genoa, Granada, Valencia and Catalonia. Merchants from Jewish, Roman Catholic, and Muslim backgrounds all met there to buy and sell goods.

The island sat at a crossroads between Catholic and Muslim lands, close to Spain, southern France, Italy, and North Africa. This made it a key spot for trade, and its economy grew strong because of this. The island had markets watched over by the Consulate of the Sea.

In 707, a leader from North Africa attacked and took goods from Majorca. Later, in 903, another leader from the same area took control of the island. After this, the city of Palma became part of the Emirate of Córdoba in al-Andalus. The island grew and became a base for pirates who attacked ships, making trade harder for places like Pisa, Genoa, Barcelona, and Marseille.

Conquest of the island by Ramon Berenguer III

Main article: 1113–1115 Balearic Islands expedition

In 1114, the Count of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer, gathered nobles from Pisa and other cities to fight against the pirates based on Majorca. Their goal was to take the island from Muslim control and set up a Roman Catholic government to stop future attacks on Catholic ships.

After an eight-month siege, Berenguer had to leave because another group was threatening his home. He left the Genoese in charge, but they eventually stopped the siege and left with what they had taken. Even though this attempt failed, it helped build up Catalan naval power and brought together Catholic kingdoms around the Mediterranean.

Almoravid and Almohad Empire

After the Count of Barcelona left, Majorca went back under Muslim control. Trade continued, but there were still attacks on ships. In 1148, a leader signed a treaty to not attack Genoa and Pisa. The island had many buildings, including mosques, and the people developed ways to bring water to their farms.

Status of the Crown of Aragon

After dealing with problems at home, the Crown of Aragon began looking to expand. In 1212, a big battle weakened the Muslim leaders, giving Aragon a chance to grow stronger. Young James I was raised in a religious and military setting, preparing him for future leadership.

Preparations

King James I of Aragon wanted to take control of Valencia and the Balearic Islands because they were rich lands that could help grow his kingdom. Valencia had plenty of space for more people, and the islands could give land to nobles. The king of Castile had tried to take parts of Valencia that belonged to Aragon. Taking the Balearic Islands would also help Catalan and Provence traders by removing competition from Majorcan traders and stopping pirates who used Majorca as a base. Controlling the islands was also a way to build trade routes with Syria and Alexandria, which would improve trade with Italy and the rest of the Mediterranean.

The Catalan Courts, a group that gave advice to the king, met in Barcelona in 1228 to talk about attacking the Balearic Islands or Valencia. The king promised support from the churches on the islands to the Bishop of Barcelona. Families who were powerful in Barcelona wanted to help the king’s plans because they believed it would help their businesses. Father Grony, a leader from Barcelona, offered the city’s help for the expedition. The king decided to focus on attacking Majorca. During a dinner, a navigator named Pedro Martell encouraged the king to start this plan. The king spoke about the attack being a good and important work, and some religious groups supported the idea, saying it was what God wanted.

The king asked Catalan nobles for help and promised to share the land they took with them. They agreed to give knights and soldiers and paid special taxes to support the army. The king also asked for money from merchants and promised to give them land along the coast from Barcelona to Majorca if they won.

The attack was open to anyone who wanted to join, including private groups and Jewish people called Xuetes, who were important for their skills in trade and business. The king trusted them and wanted them to move to the new lands to help build the economy. Nobles, bishops, and cities like Barcelona, Tortosa, and Tarragona all helped by giving soldiers, ships, and money. Even cities in other places like Provence and Italy joined to help. The king prepared many ships and supplies for the journey.

Armies

Christian army

The Christian army, made up of groups of knights and foot soldiers, was estimated to have around 1,500 knights and 15,000 foot soldiers. These came from many different leaders and groups, including the House of Aragon, Nuño Sánchez I of Roussillon and Cerdagne, Guillem II de Bearn i Montcada, and others.

Muslim army

The Muslim army, led by the king of the island, Abu Yahya, was thought to have between 18,000 and 42,000 soldiers with around 2,000 to 5,000 horses. They used weapons like spears, arrows, and shields, as well as special throwing machines called Fustibalus, which were like slingshots on sticks. They also had catapults and other quick, light machines that could break down enemy tents.

Conquest

Journey and landing of the troops

The expedition to Majorca left from Salou, Cambrils and Tarragona on September 5, 1229, with a fleet of over 150 ships, mostly from Catalonia. The group included between 800 and 1,500 armed men and 15,000 soldiers. The Muslim ruler of the island, Abu Yahya, had between 18,000 and 42,000 men and 2,000 to 5,000 horses, but received no help from other lands.

The journey was difficult because of a big storm that almost turned the fleet back. After three days, they arrived at Pantaleu island near present-day San Telmo, part of Andrach. During the trip, King James I made a promise to build a cathedral if they survived the storm.

Battle of Portopí

The battle of Portopí was the main fight between the Christian troops led by James I and the Muslim troops of Abu Yahya. It happened on September 12 in the Na Bourgeois mountains, between Santa Ponsa and the city of Majorca. Even though the Christians won, they lost some important men, including Guillem II de Bearne and his nephew Ramón.

Before the battle, the Muslim army was ready in the Portopí highlands, knowing the Christians had to pass through there to reach Medina Mayurqa. Guillem de Montcada and Nuño Sánchez argued over who should lead the front group, and Montcada took charge. However, they were caught in an ambush and surrounded until they were killed. James I continued with the rest of the army and fought the enemy in the mountains.

Siege of Medina Mayurqa and the pacification of the island

After the battle, the king and his troops set up camp north of the city. James I ordered the building of attack machines like trebuchets and a catapult to break through the city walls. One Muslim man named Ben Abed offered to help the Christians in exchange for peace. He gave the king supplies and advice about the city.

The Muslims tried to stop the attack by tying Christian prisoners to their walls, but the prisoners shouted for the Christians to keep attacking. In response, James I sent the heads of captured soldiers over the walls. Eventually, the Muslims began to talk about giving up, but talks broke down.

Taking of Medina Mayurqa

The Christians used many methods to attack the city, including siege towers, battering rams, and mines. After months of fighting, on December 31, 1229, James I’s troops broke through the walls. A soldier named Arnaldo Sorell placed a banner on one of the towers and signaled the others to attack. The Christians entered the city, shouting prayers.

Dispute over the division of the spoils

After taking the city, the soldiers began taking items for themselves, causing disagreements. The king tried to stop the looting and promised fair sharing, but some soldiers ignored him and continued taking things. The king had to bring in more knights to help finish taking over the rest of the island.

Muslim resistance

Some Muslims who escaped to the mountains organized resistance for two years. James I led attacks against them, and eventually most surrendered. By October 30, 1230, most towns on the island were under Christian control. James I returned to Catalonia but came back to Majorca in 1232 to deal with the last group of resistors in the mountains.

Muslim perspective

Historians Guillermo Rosselló Bordoy and Nicolau Roser Nebot discovered an important Muslim account of the conquest of Majorca called Kitab ta'rih Mayurqa. They found it on a CD in a library in Tindouf. The account was written by Ibn Amira Al-Mahzumi, a person from Alzira who fled to Africa during the war.

This account gives us a unique view of the conquest from the people who were conquered. It includes details not found elsewhere, like the name of the landing site, Sanat Busa, which means "place of reeds" in Arabic. The Muslim account also mentions there were 50 ships in the Christian fleet and describes events such as the Battle of Portopí.

Distribution of land and property

Main article: Llibre del Repartiment (Majorca)

When the island of Majorca was taken over, there were 816 farms. The land was shared out following plans made before the invasion and recorded in the Llibre del Repartiment. King James I split the island into two parts. One half, called the "medietas regis," went to the king, and the other half, called the "medietas magnatis," went to the nobles who helped in the takeover. We know more about the king's half, but the nobles' share was likely similar. Many of the people involved in the invasion came from Barcelona and Marseille, and some were from the Templars group.

The system set up by King James I included special areas that had to provide armed defenders, called knights. These knights had special rights and were respected by the king. The land could be passed on or sold, which changed some of their rights.

The king's half included about 2,113 houses, 320 workshops in towns, and 47,000 hectares of land divided into 817 estates. This part was shared among military groups that helped with the invasion, such as the Knights Templar, officers, and free men. The Knights Templar received a large share, along with others like the cities and the king's firstborn son.

The nobles' half was shared among four main leaders, who then divided it among their followers, free people, and religious groups. These leaders included Guillem Montcada, Hug of Empúries, Nuño Sánchez, and the Bishop of Barcelona.

Origin of the conquerors

The people who helped take over the island of Majorca came from many different places. Some towns on the island today still carry names from their leaders, like Deya, which was named after a knight who helped the main leader, Nuño Sánchez.

After the takeover, the leaders wanted more people to live on the island and work the land. They offered special rights to attract new settlers. Most of these new people came from a place called Catalonia, especially from areas along the northeast and east coasts. A small group of people who already lived there, called Moors, stayed behind.

Many last names on the island today come from where the first settlers lived before they arrived. Examples include Català from Catalonia, Pisa from the city of Pisa, and Cerdà from a region called Cerdagne.

Before the takeover, there were very few Christian people on the island. The first church service was held in a building that used to be a mosque. Some historians believe that Christian beliefs never completely disappeared, even during the time when Muslim leaders controlled the island.

Menorca and Ibiza

After taking over the island of Majorca, King James I decided not to attack Menorca right away because his soldiers were tired and needed to prepare for the next battle in Valencia. Instead, he tried a clever plan. He sent some people to talk to the people living on Menorca, and he made big fires that could be seen from far away. This made the people on Menorca think there was a huge army ready to attack them, so they agreed to a peace treaty. Menorca stayed under its own leaders but had to pay taxes to the king of Majorca.

Later, in the year 1287, Menorca was finally taken over by another king, Alfonso III of Aragon.

For Ibiza, King James I gave the job of taking over the island to several leaders, including the archbishop of Tarragona. They successfully took Ibiza in 1235, and it became part of the Kingdom of Majorca. People from a place called Ampurdán moved in to live there.

Consequences

Main article: Kingdom of Majorca

After the conquest of Majorca, the new Christian city was split into two areas for managing jobs and services. One important building, built on an old mosque, is thought to be the oldest temple in Palma.

Majorca became part of the Crown of Aragon and used laws from Catalonia. The city was renamed and given control over the whole island. Because of its good location, the city grew wealthy from trading with places in North Africa, Italy, and around the Mediterranean.

Over time, new rules were added to handle disagreements and crimes. Some people could settle arguments by paying money instead of facing punishment. Not all Muslims were treated the same; some who helped were allowed to keep their freedom and jobs, while others were sold away.

The city’s water system brought water through ditches to the royal palace, and control of the water became a private right given by the king. After a disease caused the population to drop, raising animals became more common, helping the local textile industry and trade with Italian cities.

The land was slowly taken over, and many people lived in the main city and nearby areas. After King James I died, his son James II became king of Majorca, which stayed separate from Aragon for a time before joining back with it. Some streets in Palma today remember James I and this time in history.

Legacy

Events

In 2009, a walking tour with 19 panels in four languages opened. It is called "the landing routes" and takes visitors around the outskirts of Santa Ponsa on three different paths: the Christian path, the Muslim path, and the battle path.

Each year on December 30 and 31, a festival called the "Festa de l'Estendart" celebrates the capture of the island's capital. This festival is one of the oldest in Europe and was declared important for cultural heritage. During the event, people make proclamations and place flowers at a statue of King James I in Palma.

Literature

Many stories and legends in Catalan culture tell about King James I. One story says that during a banquet, the king told everyone to stop eating and drinking until he returned victorious from the island.

Art

Many buildings from the time of the conquest show a style called Gothic. Rich and powerful people built beautiful homes and held important meetings.

Some old Islamic buildings were destroyed during the conquest, but one bath from a garden in Palma still exists. It was built around the 10th century and has beautiful arches and columns.

There are also many paintings about the conquest. Some paintings from between 1285 and 1290 show scenes from the conquest and are kept in Barcelona. In 1897, a painting competition was held to decorate a hall with scenes from the conquest. One winning painting shows King James I entering the city after the victory.

Mysticism

In the Llibre dels Fets, King Jaume I of Aragon spoke about his strong belief in God during the time he was preparing to reach the island of Majorca. He described how the wind that seemed to work against them actually helped all the ships arrive safely without any losses.

By the year 2012, someone wrote a special message to the Bishop of Majorca, sharing a personal feeling that something beyond normal intelligence was guiding events connected to the island's history. This person noticed changes in how the island's capital and its cathedral were described online, which made them feel as if something special was happening.