Kingdom of Majorca

The kingdom of Majorca was founded by James I of Aragon, known as the Conqueror, who ended the Muslim domination of the Balearic Islands (Majorca and Menorca) and Pitiuse islands (Ibiza and Formentera). Driven by a powerful group of Catalan merchants, anxious to put an end to the raids of moorish pirates, the King of Aragon took military action in 1229, completing his military project in a few years. Even James’ territories on the continent, namely the counties of Roussillon, with the capital of Perpignan, and of Cerdanya and areas of Montpellier, Carlat and Aumelas were part of the kingdom. Incorporated into the Crown of Aragon and then in the Habsburg monarchy (1516-1700), the kingdom, however, continued to maintain its own laws and customs, the fueros. A viceroy, sent from Madrid, exercised power on behalf of the king. With the advent to the throne of Philip V (1683-1746), the kingdom of Majorca, as the kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia and Catalonia, were reduced to provinces of the Spanish monarchy, conforming to Castilian laws and jurisdictions.