CHAP. VIII. The War with the Moors renewed. The Island of Majorca Conquered by the Aragoni∣ans. The Pope's Legate disanuls the Marriage of King Jayme, on account of Con∣sanguinity. Raymund, Earl of Toulouze, a Heretick reduc'd.

THE Citizens of Baeça Besieged the Castle, which, as has been said, was in the hands * of the Christians. They, tho' few in number, being furnished with Provisions, held out till King Ferdinand coming with a great Army, the Moors not only raised the Siege, but abandoning the City, retired further into Andaluzia. D. Lope de Haro for his good Service, was appointed Governour of that City. Martos was given in charge to Alvaro Perez de Ca∣stro, and Tello de Meneses. Nothing more of note was done this Campaign. After the King's return to Toledo, D. Tello with the Forces under his Command, made an Incursion as far as Se∣vil. To divert him, and at the Sollicitation of the Moors that abandoned Baeça, the King of Sevil advanced as far as that City, but finding he had not a Force to make head against the Christians, he concluded a Peace, promising to pay 300000 Maravedis yearly. The Moors of Murcia proclaimed one Abenhut, of the Blood Royal of Zaragoça, and an utter Enemy to the Almohades, their King. A vast number of People resorted to him, he palliating his Ambition with Religion, and giving out, that all the losses sustained, were a punishment for the new Opinions introduc'd by the Almohades. This was the posture of Af∣fairs in Spain, in the Year 1228. In France, this same Year, Raymund, Earl of Toulouze, being * hard pressed by King Luis, was reconciled to the Church, and obtained Peace upon those con∣ditions, That he should labour to extirpate the Heresie of the Albigenses. That his Daugh∣ter should Marry one of the King's Brothers. That if he dy'd without Issue, the Earldom of Toulouze should be annex'd to the Crown of France. That he should maintain at his cost a College for Instruction of his People, and that he should serve five years in the Holy-Land. For security of performance, he deliver'd up to the King five Castles, and his Daughter. Now dy'd in Spain among other Persons of note, D. Ramiro, Bishop of Pamplona, of the Blood Royal of Navarre. Peter Ramirez succeeded him, in whose time Pope Gregory IX. took that Church and its Prelates under his Protection, which was the same as exempting 'em from the Jurisdiction of the Spanish Metropolitans. In Aragon, the King by Policy reduc'd the factious Nobility. His Uncle Ferdinand, he again took into favour, upon condition he * should promise that the Conspirators would quit the Engagements they had made to one ano∣ther. D. Sancho, Bishop of Zaragoça, press'd to have those Towns that belong'd to his Bro∣ther Peter de Ahones, and had been seized by the King when he was kill'd, restored to him. It was agreed to stand to Judgment, and the Result was, that such places as he held as the King's Lieutenant, should remain to the King; but what was his own by Inheritance, should be restored to the Bishop. Thus call Animosities seem'd to cease, but that the Family of Cabrera was not yet quell'd. Aurembiasse, the Daughter of Armengaud, Earl of Ʋrgel, de∣manded to be restored to her Father's Dominions, according to sentence of Law. Those Gentlemen being in possession, made no account of that Lady; but the King who protected her, by force of Arms recover'd many Towns, and among them Balaguer, the head of that Earldom. This done, he Married that Lady to Prince Peter of Portugal, his Father's Cousin-German, who at that time was in Aragon, having fled from his own Country. Gerard Cabrera, who lost the Earldom, took the Habit of the Templers. Some years after, his Son Ponce re∣covered the Earldom of Ʋrgel, the Lady Aurembiasse dying without Issue.

Both Castile and Aragon, at one time made War upon the Moors. The Aragonians advan∣ced their Affairs much, but the Castilians at present, made no great progress. Abenhut, the new King of the Moors, being possess'd of the Noble City of Granada, was an Eye-sore to King Ferdinand, who marched with his Army up to the Walls of that City, and even as far as Almeria. Yet nothing of moment was done, for the Moors would not hazard a Battle. Thus this, and the following Year 1229. were spent. At this time the Knights of the Toutonick Or∣der, ** who had served well in the Holy-Land, having lost Ptolemais, return'd into Germany, and setled in Prussia, where they grew so strong, as to Conquer Livonia, where they main∣tain'd themselves many years. Let us return to Aragon, where the King having appeased all Tumults, now bent his thoughts upon carrying on the War against the Infidels. It hap'ned one Peter Martelle invited the King to Dinner. The Windows of his House look'd upon the Sea, and thence, the Island of Majorca was in sight. This gave occasion to discourse of that and the adjacent Islands, and Peter Martelle much commended their Fruitfulness, and magni∣fied the damage done from thence on the Coasts of Catalonia. But a few days before, those Moors had taken some Vessels of the Catalonians and Retabohihes, the Moor that took them, Page  205 when Restitution was demanded in the Name of Jayme, King of Aragon, proudly answer'd, What King is that you speak of? The Embassador reply'd, He is Son to that King of A ragon, *who at Nabas de Tolosa, overthrew a mighty Army of your Nation. These Words so incens'd the Moor, that he scarce forbore offering Violence to the Embassador; yet caused him imme∣diately to depart the Island. This mov'd the King to undertake that War, and in order to it, held the Cortes, or Parliament, at Barcelona, where his design met with such Approbati∣on, that they again gave him the Tax called Bovaticum, which used to be given but once in a Reign. He sent out his Orders for all the Forces to Rendezvous by the middle of May, at Salu, near Tarragona, where the Fleet was fitting, and all Provision making to pass over to Majorca. At this time, John, Cardinalof S. Sabina, came as the Pope's Legate to Aragon; the King went to meet him at Calatayud. Thither resorted Zeit, King of Valencia, expelled his Kingdom by a Moor, called Zaen. His love to the Christians, and a report that he de∣sign'd * to be Converted, brought this disaster upon him, for which reasons the King resolv'd to protect and restore him, which he afterwards perform'd. The Legate's Business was to examine whether the Marriage of the King were valid; tho' he had then a Son by the Queen, it was declared null, by reason of Consanguinity, ye so, that the Son should inherit the Crown. The Queen went away to her Sister Berengaria, yet her Jointure was not taken away, and she carry'd with her many Jewels and other Riches. After this, the King went to Tar∣ragona, where he spent the Summer, preparing all things for the Enterprize in hand. All Necessaries being in a readiness, he set Sail in September. His Fleet consisted of 135 Vessels, whereof 25 great Ships, 12 Galleys, the rest Brigantines and small Vessels, to carry Horses. The Land Forces were 15000 Foot, and 1500 Horse. In sight of Majorca, a sudden Storm put the whole Fleet in great danger, but that ceasing, they arrived all in safety. Majorca is * square, the four Angles pointing to the four parts of the World. In the West side, is the Port Palumbaria, and opposite to it, the Island Dragonera. Cape Salinas looks towards the South, and in the mid-way betwixt it and the Port, is seated the principal City, called as well as the Island, Majorca. The Capes Piedra and S. Vincent, point to the East and North. Near Cape Piedra, is a small Town, but safe Harbour, called Palencia, formerly a Roman Co∣lony. The King would have entred this Port, but the contrary Winds forc'd him to Palum∣baria, 30 Miles distant from that City. The Admiral Galley, in which the King was, en∣tred the Port first, and after it, all the Fleet, not one Vessel being lost. A Multitude of Moors opposed their landing, which oblig'd them to pass on to the Port S. Poncia, where, notwithstanding all resistance, they gain'd the Shore. Some Skirmishes hap'ned, in which, the Christians had always the better, and therefore they marched towards the City, which * being once taken, the rest of the Island would soon be reduc'd. The Moorish King encamp'd on Mount Portopi, in sight of the City, with a great Body of Men, and laid an Ambush a∣mong the Rocks and Woods. His design took effect, the Christians marching as if no Enemy had been near, and the Moors seeing them in disorder, charg'd furiously. Among many o∣thers, William de Moncada, Viscount of Bearn, and Raymund de Moncada, two Men of great Note, were kill'd, being in the Van. Great numbers of Moors came down from the Hill to second their Companions, and the Christians were in great danger, but the King's Valour and Fortune, overcame all difficulties. His Men encouraged by his example, put the Infidels to flight, and forc'd their Camp, yet pursu'd no farther, because the City was near. They Encamp'd in sight of it, and immediately fell to work, fixing their Engines, and making their * approaches. The Ditch, tho' very deep and wide, was soon fill'd. Many Sallies were made by the Moors, but for the most part, they return'd with loss. At length the Christians lodg'd themselves under the Wall, and undermin'd four Towers, which they propped with Timber, then setting Fire to it, all those Towers fell, and left a wide Breach. This mov'd the Inhabitants to treat of a Surrender, upon condition, to be transported into Africk with their Goods. Some were for admitting this offer, others cry'd out for Revenge of so many Gentlemen as had been lost. Dispair made the Infidels furious, insomuch, that many on our side repented they had opposed their Surrender. An Assault must be given, and many ad∣vised to do it by Night; but the King to avoid the confusion that is common in the dark, drew out by break of day, in order to storm, causing all the Avenues to be guarded, that none of the Enemy might escape. Three times the Sign was given to fall on, and the Soldi∣ers stirred not, till the King calling upon them, as it were wak'd them out of a heavy sleep. Then with a terrible shout they gave the Assault. The Moors with great Courage ran to meet the Danger, but being over-power'd and born down, the City was entred, and plundred, and * the People put to the Sword. The Moorish King was drawn out from a private place, where he lay hid, and King Jayme took him by the Beard, having sworn so to do, yet comforted him with good words and promises. After taking the City, the Castle soon surrendred, where was found a Son of the King's 13 years of age, who was afterwards Baptiz'd by the Name of D. Jayme, and had an Estate given him, which was the Town of Gotor, in the King∣dom of Valencia, whence his Successors, Gentlemen of Note in that Country, take their Name. Majorca was taken on the last day of December preceeding the Year 1230. This City was * made an Episcopal See, notwithstanding the Canons of Barcelona pretended a Right to it, but could make no good proof. All the rest of the Island was easily brought under, which done, most of the Soldiers return'd home, and the King to Catalonia. This Year the Order Page  [unnumbered] of Mercela, Instituted some time before, was Confirm'd by Pope Gregory IX. as appears by his Bull dated at Peroza, in Tuscany, the 17th of January.