The Kingdom of Mallorca and its kings

What was the Kingdom of Mallorca?

For over 300 years, our island was under Muslim rule, until King Jaime I of Aragon conquered it and established the Kingdom of Mallorca. This marked a radical change in the structure of society and, although this kingdom lasted for just over a century, each of its kings left their mark. Today we will tell you, very briefly, about the kings of Mallorca.

 

Jaime I, and the conquest of Mallorca

Jaime I, known as ‘The Conqueror’, was born in 1208 in Montpellier, now a city in France but which at that time belonged to the Crown of Aragon. In 1229, whilst still very young, he gathered troops and set out to conquer Mallorca, a campaign that took around two years to complete. He then established the Kingdom of Mallorca and inaugurated the dynasty of the kings of Mallorca.

His strong character led him to also conquer Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Valencia and Murcia. He died in 1276 and bequeathed the kingdom to his son Jaime.

 

Jaime II: The Consolidation of the Kingdom

Jaime II was born in 1243, also in Montpellier. In 1276, upon his father’s death, he became King of the Kingdom of Majorca, though not of the Crown of Aragon. His reign was interrupted between 1285 and 1295 because his nephew (King of Aragon), Alfonso III the Liberal, seized Majorca from him. Later, his successor, his other nephew, Jaime II the Just, returned it to him.

Jaime II of Mallorca was a kind-hearted man and introduced many improvements to the kingdom. He oversaw the construction of Palma Cathedral, the Almudaina Palace and Bellver Castle. He died in 1311 and bequeathed the kingdom to his son Sancho.

 

Sancho I, the Peaceful

Sancho I was born in 1277 in Perpignan, now part of France. In 1311, he ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Majorca. He had a calm and peace-loving nature, perhaps influenced by his poor health and the fact that, as a child, he and his brothers had been confined to a castle by the King of Aragon. He always sought to avoid conflict with France, Aragon and North Africa.

He expanded the fleet of ships for trade and defence, and his reign was a period of economic prosperity. He died in 1324 without having had any children and named his nephew James as the next king.

 

James III, the reckless

Jaime III was born in 1315 in Catania (Sicily), now part of Italy. In 1324, at the age of just 9, he was proclaimed king, although he was unable to exercise his full powers until he was 20. Perhaps due to his youth and his favouring of the King of England, he came into conflict with the King of France, the King of Castile, and also the Crown of Aragon. Jaime III established the Consulat del Mar and had the work “Leges Palatinae” published.

 

The End of the Kingdom of Majorca

In 1343, Jaime III’s brother-in-law, Peter the Ceremonious, King of Aragon, seized Majorca from him. In 1349, Jaime III returned to the island to reclaim it, but died at the Battle of Llucmajor. The independent Kingdom of Majorca was then incorporated into the Crown of Aragon.

 

King and Queen, but without a kingdom

At just 14 years of age, the son of James III saw his father die in battle and was taken prisoner. He inherited the rights and would have been King James IV of Majorca, but the King of Aragon kept him imprisoned in Majorca, Valencia and Barcelona. He managed to escape and devoted himself to trying to reclaim his kingdom, ravaging Aragon with his armies until his death in 1375.

His sister Isabella succeeded him as titular queen, but just six months after James IV’s death, she sold her dynastic rights and retired to the Convent of Saint Catherine in Paris. She died in 1404, and thus the Kingdom of Majorca ceased to exist for good.

 

What remains today of the Kings of Mallorca

This period, when Mallorca was an independent kingdom, was a very fruitful one, and indeed the island’s most iconic monuments date from this era: Bellver Castle, the cathedral, the Consolat de Mar and the fish market in Palma. All of these can be visited, giving you a good idea of what the Kingdom of Mallorca was like, its royal court and all the splendour it achieved thanks to maritime trade.

If you want to know how Jaime I conquered the island of Mallorca, visit our article by clicking on the link below: How Jaime I conquered Mallorca

How Jaime I conquered Mallorca

The history of the Kingdom of Mallorca is still very much alive in many corners of the island, in its architecture, its traditions and its Mediterranean cuisine. Discover the best gourmet foods in Mallorca