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
With him our accessible island histories end, for the history of
Geronimo Alemany, which would bring the record down to the death
of Charles II., the last King of the House of Austria, is still in
manuscript. We have to thank Don Miguel Moragues Pro and Don Joaquim
Maria Bover for having edited the histories of Dameto and Mut, with
very copious notes. The three thick volumes were published at Palma
in 1841, and a fourth volume containing the history by Alemany was
promised. Visitors to Palma who take an intelligent interest in the
history of the island will desire to possess and to read them. They
will find the three volumes at the excellent book-seller’s shop of Don
Felipe Guasp, No. 6 Morey Street, the first turn to the right after
crossing the Plaza de Santa Eulalia.
The eighteenth century opened with the war of succession. The French
claimant was a grandson of a sister of Charles II. The German claimant
was a grandson of Charles’s aunt. Catalonia and Majorca espoused the
cause of the German archduke, while the rest of Spain proclaimed the
French prince as Philip V. On October 1, 1706, Majorca was occupied
by the troops of the Archduke Charles, and all adherents of the
French claimant were persecuted or banished. Even after the fall of
Barcelona the Majorcans held out. But all was in vain. In June 1715
a large army landed and besieged Palma, which capitulated after a
siege of seventeen days, and the Bourbons forced the islanders to
submit to their yoke. All the ancient privileges and grants of the
Aragonese monarchs to the Majorcans were abolished, with their form of
government. Captains-general were substituted for the Viceroys, and the
present fortifications of Palma were constructed in the reign of Philip
V. Majorca suffered from the misgovernment of Bourbon rule with the
rest of Spain. From that time the people have had to rely upon their
own virility, energy, and skill for any advance in civilisation and
well-being, and not in vain. The Majorcans steadily progressed, while
their old families, claiming descent from the soldiers of King Jayme,
became distinguished in arms and letters and were ennobled, several as
early as the times of the Austrian kings. In 1625 the title of Marquis
of Bellpuig was given to the family of Dameto y Cotoner, in 1632 that
of Santa Maria de Formiguera to the family of Burgues Zaforteza y
Villalonga, in 1634 that of Count of Ayamans to the family of Togores
(formerly Moncada), in 1658 that of Count of Montenegro to the family
of Despuig, and in 1717 that of Count of Ariañy to the family of
Cotoner. Several titles were also conferred on Majorcan families during
the eighteenth century; generally well deserved.[23]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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