The Story of Majorca and MinorcaMarkham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
History
The Story of Majorca and Minorca
Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
Balearic Islands (Spain) -- History
There were still over two thousand insurgent Moors in the recesses of
the mountains, and their leader refused to surrender to anyone but the
King himself. On this being represented to En Jayme, he resolved to
pay a third visit to his island kingdom, and sailed from Salou with
three galleys in May 1232. He landed at Porto Pi, and was joyfully
received by his loyal subjects, who were able to show him great
progress in the public works at Palma. The cathedral had been traced
out on a site facing the sea, close to the east wall of the Almudaina,
and the royal chapel, which was to be the apse containing the high
altar, was actually finished. Between the long lancet windows there
are marble statues of saints and angels on corbels and under richly
carved canopies, placed there at the cost of the Oleza family. This
chapel and one on either side were to form the eastern ends of the nave
and two aisles, not yet commenced. The King was much pleased at the
progress that had been made.
The time had now come for the submission of the other Balearic islands;
but first the King received the surrender of the Moorish mountain
chief, he and his followers being allowed to retain their homes, paying
rent to their overlords. A few obstinate fanatics refused the terms,
and had to be starved out.
The Master of the Templars in Majorca, Friar Ramon Serra, was the
first to suggest to the King that his galleys should be sent to
Minorca, demanding immediate submission and threatening that the King
would himself come with a large army to punish any disobedience. The
three knights, Torrella, Maza, and Serra himself, were accordingly
ordered to proceed to Minorca with an interpreter, and the King’s
demand written in Arabic. The Moorish Alcaide and headmen of the town
received the knights with much respect. The letter was read to them,
and they asked for time to deliberate. This was granted. On that very
evening the King, with only six knights, was stationed on Cape Pera,
the eastern extreme of the island of Majorca, near Arta, with Minorca
clearly in sight. As soon as the sun set they fired some immense piles
of _lentisco_ bushes, to make the Minorcans believe that a great army
was encamped there. When the chief men of Minorca saw the fires, they
hurried to the Catalan knights to inquire what they were. ‘It is the
great army,’ they were told, ‘that will come directly the King hears
of a refusal of his demands.’ Next day they submitted, surrendered all
their strong places, and declared that they trusted in the clemency of
the King. Meanwhile En Jayme remained on the Cape of Pera, continuing
the stratagem of the bonfires for four days, when the news of the
submission of Minorca without bloodshed was brought and gave him great
satisfaction. Iviza and Formentera submitted in the following year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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