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
Jayme was indeed in despair. His wife, in spite of her entreaties, was
not allowed by her unfeeling brother to join him. But the imprisonment
of the two innocent children was more than some noble Catalans could
stand. They broke into the prison, killed the jailer, and contrived
that Prince Jayme and his sister should escape to their father. At
the same time there was a revulsion of feeling in favour of the
persecuted King. The French Court interceded in his favour, and he
received letters and messages from Majorca inviting him to return. He
still retained the Barony of Montpellier. He sold it to King Philip of
France for 120,000 _escudos de oro_, with which he raised troops and
equipped vessels for the invasion of Majorca. The King of France and
the Queen of Sicily assisted him, especially with ships. King Jayme
collected eight galleys and many smaller vessels, on board of which he
embarked 3,000 infantry and 400 cavalry. His half-brothers, Pagano
and Sancho, faithful to the end, were with him. There, too, was his
young son Jayme, just escaped from the dungeon at Barcelona. Carlos de
Grimaldi, of the noble Genoese family, was one of his chief commanders.
He had been granted the towns of Soller and Alcudia, while his brother
Ayto was to have the estate of Buñola, both with the title of Count.
Thus the ill-fated King sailed from the coast of Provence on his last
disastrous attempt to regain his kingdom.
En Gilabert de Centelles was then Governor of Majorca for the usurper,
and he had a large force under his command. King Jayme landed with
his little army on the south coast of the island, and advanced with
some hope of success. But Centelles had an overwhelmingly superior
force of 20,000 infantry and 800 cavalry. The hostile armies met near
the town of Lluchmayor, to the south-east of Palma. The King led a
small squadron of cavalry and some French infantry in the van, and
was the first to encounter the enemy. But there was a panic, and his
troops fled in confusion. With only a few faithful knights he fought
valorously until, covered with wounds, he fell from his horse. When
on the ground a brutal soldier cut off his head. He had reigned for
twenty-five years, from 1324 to 1349, the first eleven years happily
and in peace, the last fourteen bowed down by calamity and sorrow.
Jayme III. was a prince of many virtues. He was conscientiously
religious, well versed in the learning of his time, animated and
eloquent, and devoted to the interests of his subjects. His wife
Constance was faithful to him throughout his misfortunes, though long
separated from him by the heartless cruelty of her brother. His young
son loved him with a passionate fondness, which led to his giving up
his whole life to avenge his father’s death. His half-brothers fought
by his side at Lluchmayor, and their wives were thrown into prison.
Sancho, the youngest, lead a daughter named Esclaramunda, who married
Antal, Count of Foix, and was buried in the cathedral of Palma.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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