Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

38  INTRODUCING THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THE HIST OR Y OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS  39

Jaume I Capdepera. In the evening, he Menorca in 1276 before community. In
In September 1229, on the ordered numerous bonfires being deposed by Menorca, the rivalry
beach near Santa Ponça, to be lit, to look as though a Alfonso III, was an between Ciutadella and
Mallorca, the Catalan King large army was preparing to altogether more Maó ended in armed
Jaume I, later known as “El attack. The ruse worked and enlightened ruler. conflict. The economic
Conqueridor”, landed with his army, the Moors surrendered Menorca He and his successors position of the Balearic
which consisted of 16,000 soldiers to the king, who left them to rule presided over a “Golden Islands was worsened
and 1,500 cavalry. The pretext the island as his vassals. Age” that saw great further by the discovery
for the attack was the seizure of In 1230, Jaume I had issued advances, including and colonization of the
several Catalan vessels by the Emir the Carta de Població (People’s the building of the Americas at the end
of Mallorca. In the ensuing battle, Charter), which encouraged Castell de Bellver and of the 15th century,
Jaume I captured the capital and Catalans to settle on the Palau de l’Almudaina, which shifted the hub
conquered the entire island. In conquered islands, granting the establishment of a of European trade to the
1232, he returned to Mallorca them exemption from taxes weekly market in Palma shores of the Atlantic
with a handful of soldiers. and guaranteeing equality and the reintroduction Ocean. This downturn
From there he sent delegates to Cross in Santa Ponça, marking before the law to all its of gold and silver led, in 1521, to a bloody
Jaume I’s conquest
Menorca, who were to negotiate citizens. Special privileges coinage to stimulate revolt by peasants and
a surrender. Meanwhile, Jaume I built a were granted to Jews, in an effort to trade. The next ruler of Painting of Saint George slaying the dragon, craftsmen in Mallorca,
camp on the mountain slopes near stimulate trade. After the king’s death, the archipelago was by Francesca Comesa which ended in the
his successors fought for the inheritance, Jaume II’s son, Sancho, slaughter of many
which was finally won by Alfonso III. who built a strong fleet to defend the of the nobility and their supporters.
islands against pirates. After his death, in Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries,
Alfonso and his Successors 1324, control passed into the hands of his there were frequent pirate attacks. Many
Despite being nicknamed “The Liberal”, nephew, Jaume III, whose two-decade of the islands’ fortifications date from this
Alfonso III massacred the rebels of Palma reign also marked a period of great period including Eivissa’s surviving
and the remaining fortresses after he prosperity. The “Golden Age” came to an defences and Maó’s Fort San Felipe.
had conquered them, a bloody deed abrupt end in 1344 when an Aragonese
that led to his excommunication from conquest, led by Pedro IV, landed on
the Catholic Church. Worse was to follow. Mallorca and took it in only a week.
In 1287, Alfonso III’s army attacked and The islands of Menorca and Ibiza soon
conquered Menorca. The Muslim suffered the same fate.
defenders were sold into slavery or
slaughtered. Medina Menurqua was Decline and Fall
renamed Ciutadella and its mosques Now part of the kingdom of Aragón,
turned into churches or destroyed. the Balearic Islands found themselves to
Following the death of Alfonso III in 1291 be outside major politics. The economy
at the age of 25, Jaume II took control of soon suffered as a result of high taxes
Mallorca and Menorca. Jaume II, who and in 1391 Mallorca was the scene of Painting of the port in Palma de Mallorca, now at the city’s
Miniature with the image of Jaume I had been crowned king of Mallorca and an uprising by the poorest parts of the Museu Diocesà

Gothic rosette from a museum
1229 Mallorca captured by the in Palma, Mallorca
army of Jaume I, who is hailed 1230 Declaration of Carta de 1285 Palma conquered 1521 Armed insurrection 1531–1558
as “El Conqueridor” Població (People’s Charter) by by Alfonso III of peasants and craftsmen Devastating raids by
Jaume I Turkish pirates
1200 1250 1300 13501350 1400 1450 1500 1550
1203 The Almohads
assume rule over 1233 Ramon Llull, philosopher and 1391 Insurrection of
the archipelago theologian, father of the Catalan 1479 Unification of Aragón and Castile
language, is born in Palma the poor in Mallorca
Statue of Alfonso III by the
cathedral in Maó, Menorca Barbarossa, the conqueror of Maó in 1535

038-039_EW_Mallorca.indd 38 06/10/17 11:08 am 038-039_EW_Mallorca.indd 39 06/10/17 11:08 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
History Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm