The Story of Majorca and Minorca

by Sir Clements R. Markham

THE STORY OF MAJORCA AND MINORCA

THE STORY OF
MAJORCA AND MINORCA
BY
SIR CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, K.C.B.
AUTHOR OF
‘RICHARD III: LIFE AND CHARACTER’ ‘THE LIFE OF THE GREAT LORD FAIRFAX’
‘EDWARD VI: AN APPRECIATION’ ETC.
WITH TWO MAPS
LONDON
SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 15 WATERLOO PLACE
1908
[All rights reserved]

PREFACE

The story of the Islands of Majorca and Minorca has never been told in our language in a condensed form, although the interest is great from an historical point of view, and the materials sufficient, though not perhaps abundant. It is so closely connected with the history of Aragon and the recovery of the Sicilies from the intruding Angevins that the two cannot be altogether separated. The most that can be done is, as far as practicable, to treat the Aragonese and Sicilian events from a Majorcan point of view. This has been attempted. The stirring events of the conquest of Majorca by Jayme I., the latter part of the reign of his son, and the reigns of Sancho and Jayme III., as well as the adventures and death of Jayme IV., the last of his race, all belong strictly to Majorcan history, as do the chapters on Balearic navigators and the revolt of the ‘Comunidades.’ The story fills a gap in the history of Mediterranean countries which may not be altogether unacceptable to students. This has been one object of the writer.

Another object has been to supply more detailed information respecting the events of former times in the islands, for the use of the considerable number of visitors who resort to them. The interest of the scenery and of many localities cannot fail to be much increased by a detailed knowledge of the historical associations connected with them.

My principal authorities have been the autobiography of Jayme I., the Chronicle of Muntaner, Desclot, Zurita, and the histories of Dameto and Mut, edited by Bover. My thanks are due for much courtesy and assistance from the Count of Montenegro, H.M. Consul Don Bartolomè Bosch y Cerda, and Señor Albareda of the Grand Hotel at Palma, and to Mr. Gilbert Ogilvy for having kindly made sketches for me of the memorial chair at Alfavia.

The story of Minorca necessarily embraces an account of the several British occupations, and of some of the operations of the British fleet with Minorca as a base.

September 1908.

CONTENTS

Page
[Preface]	v
[PART I]
MAJORCA
[CHAPTER I]
Of King Jayme I. of Aragon, and how he resolved to conquer Majorca and drive out the Moors	1
[CHAPTER II]
Tells how King Jayme won a victory over the Moors of Majorca, and gives some account of the Moorish capital	16
[CHAPTER III]
Tells how En Jayme besieged and took the capital, conquered the whole island, and became the first Christian King of Majorca	25
[CHAPTER IV]
King Jayme’s last visits. Settlement of the island—Acts and death of Jayme I.	39
[CHAPTER V]
Tells how the King of Aragon took up Conradin’s glove, how the Pope’s curses went home to roost, and how En Pedro kept his tryst	54
[CHAPTER VI]
Tells how the Queen of Aragon went to Sicily with her sons, how Admiral Lauria won new victories, and how more of the Pope’s curses went home to roost	76
[CHAPTER VII]
Tells how young Federigo held Sicily against all odds, how the Catalan Company went to the east, and how Jayme II. of Majorca was restored to his island home	96
[CHAPTER VIII]
Tells how King Jayme II. at last reigned in peace, and how his page, Raymondo Lulio, attained the crown of martyrdom	107
[CHAPTER IX]
The career of Prince Fernando of Majorca, and tells how the orphan was taken home to its grandmother	120
[CHAPTER X]
King Sancho of Majorca	136
[CHAPTER XI]
King Jayme III. of Majorca	141
[CHAPTER XII]
Relates the adventures of Jayme and Isabel, describes the memorial chair, and records the end of the Majorcan dynasty	151
[CHAPTER XIII]
Relates the story, so far as it concerns Majorca, of the last Kings of Aragon	160
[CHAPTER XIV]
The Majorcans as navigators	170
[CHAPTER XV]
The ‘Comunidades’	180
[CHAPTER XVI]
The Majorcan historians—War of Succession—Families ennobled—Cotoners, Raxa, and Cardinal Despuig—Country houses	190
[CHAPTER XVII]
The Marquis of Romana and the patriot Jovellanos	201
[CHAPTER XVIII]
Conclusion	213
[PART II]
MINORCA
[CHAPTER I]
Minorca—Its prehistoric remains—Mago the Carthaginian	219
[CHAPTER II]
Conquest by Alfonso III.—Barbary pirates	230
[CHAPTER III]
British occupation	242
[CHAPTER IV]
Minorca as a base	253
[CHAPTER V]
Minorca under British rule	263
[CHAPTER VI]
Minorca twice lost	272
[CHAPTER VII]
Third occupation—Loss of British rule	282
[Index]	291
MAPS
[Majorca]to face p.	218
[Minorca]to face p.	290