Alfonso III of Aragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alfonso III |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| King of Aragon and Valencia Count of Barcelona |
|
| Reign | 1285–1291 |
| Coronation | 2 February 1286, Valencia 9 April 1286, Zaragoza |
| Predecessor | Peter III |
| Successor | James II |
| Born | 4 November 1265 Valencia |
| Died | 18 June 1291 (aged 25) Barcelona |
| Burial | Barcelona Cathedral; prev. Convent de San Francisco, Barcelona |
| House | House of Barcelona |
| Father | Peter III of Aragon |
| Mother | Constance II of Sicily |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Alfonso III (born 4 November 1265 in Valencia – died 18 June 1291) was known as the Liberal or the Free. He was the King of Aragon and Valencia, and also the Count of Barcelona (as Alfons II) starting in 1285. During his short rule, he brought the Kingdom of Majorca back under his control.
Contents
Life of King Alfonso III
Early Life and Family
Alfonso was the son of King Peter III of Aragon and Constance. His mother, Constance, was the daughter and heir of King Manfred of Sicily.
Conquering the Balearic Islands
Soon after becoming king, Alfonso worked to get the Balearic Islands back for the Kingdom of Aragon. These islands had been separated from the kingdom by his grandfather, James I of Aragon.
In 1285, Alfonso declared war on his uncle, James II of Majorca. He successfully conquered Majorca in 1285 and Ibiza in 1286. This meant he took back control over the Kingdom of Majorca.
He then went on to conquer Menorca on 17 January 1287. Menorca had been a self-governing Muslim area within the Kingdom of Majorca. This date is now celebrated as Menorca's national holiday.
Struggles with Nobles
Alfonso's time as king was difficult because of a big disagreement with the nobles in Aragon. This fight led to a set of rules called the Union of Aragon. These rules were like a "Magna Carta" for Aragon.
The Union of Aragon gave many important royal powers to the lesser nobles. Alfonso found it hard to say no to their demands. This created problems and disunity in Aragon. The nobles started to respect the king less, which almost led to chaos in the kingdom.
Plans for Marriage and Death
During his life, a marriage was planned for Alfonso with Eleanor. She was the daughter of King Edward I of England. However, Alfonso died before he could meet his future wife.
He passed away at the young age of 25 in 1291. He was first buried in a Franciscan convent in Barcelona. Later, in 1852, his remains were moved to Barcelona Cathedral.
Alfonso III in Literature
The famous Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, mentioned Alfonso III in his epic poem, the Divine Comedy. Dante wrote that he saw Alfonso's spirit outside the gates of Purgatory. Alfonso was there with other kings whom Dante blamed for the messy political situation in Europe during the 13th century.
See also
In Spanish: Alfonso III de Aragón para niños
