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
Don Miguel de Gurrea or Urrea, the Viceroy, who had shown so much
prudence at the commencement when he was powerless, and so much courage
as soon as he had troops at his disposal, sent the keys of the kingdom
to the Emperor. Keys finely worked in gold were sent in their place,
which the descendants of Gurrea preserve to this day. Alcudia received
the title of ‘the most faithful city.’
The principal nobles who valorously resisted the rebellion and restored
order were Priamo de Villalonga, Alfonso Torrella, Salvador Sureda,
Jayme Oleza, Matias Fortuñy, Mateo Togores, Albertin Damato, Antonio
Gual, Zaforteza, Despuig, Cotoner--all names which appear in the annals
of their country, from generation to generation, down to this day.
The insurrection caused great misery and destruction of property,
and it was quite a century before the islanders can be said to have
recovered from its evil effects, either morally or as regards their
industries and general well-being.
CHAPTER XVI
The Majorcan historians--War of succession--Families
ennobled--Cotoners--Raxa and Cardinal Despuig--Country houses
With the war of the ‘Comunidades’ the romance of Majorcan history ends.
During the seventeenth century the country was very slowly recovering
from the effects of that disastrous rising; but it was long before
the good relations between the different classes of the people were
restored. The island was governed under the Kings of the House of
Austria by Viceroys, of whom five were natives of Majorca. The names of
Moncada, Fuster, Pax, Zaforteza, and Sureda occur in the list.
But though the making of history seemed to be dead, the work of
recording the glorious annals of Majorca under her own kings was
zealously undertaken by natives of the island. The first official
chronicler, appointed by the Jurados, was Don Juan Dameto. He wrote the
‘Historia General del reino Balearico’ between 1621 and 1631, and died
prematurely in 1633. His work commences with the earliest Roman times
and is brought down to the death of Jayme II. Dameto had travelled
much and was an accomplished scholar. His work is by no means a mere
chronicle. The style is agreeable and full without being prolix, and
shows a sense of proportion and of the relative importance of events.
Don Vicente Mut, who was born at Palma in 1614, was the continuator of
Dameto. He was a military man and major of the militia of his island,
an accomplished mathematician, as well as a student of history. He
searched the archives with great diligence, and gives valuable details
respecting the administration of the island at different periods.
His history covers the ground from the accession of King Sancho to
the suppression of the ‘Comunidades,’ and contains spirited accounts
of the raids of Barbary pirates and histories of the monasteries and
hospitals. Mut died in 1687.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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