Battle of Llucmajor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Llucmajor |
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 Sculpture representing James III (killed) and his son James IV, who raises the banner of the Kingdom of Majorca in Llucmajor. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Crown of Aragon |
.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of Majorca |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Gilabert de Centelles Riambau de Corbera |
James III of Majorca † |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Likely high, army surrendered | ||||||||
The Battle of Llucmajor (pronounced yoo-mah-JOR) was a very important battle that happened in 1349. It was fought between the armies of Peter IV of Aragon and his cousin, James III of Majorca. The battle took place in the town of Llucmajor on the Balearic Islands. Peter IV's forces won, and King James III was killed. This battle ended the independent Kingdom of Majorca, which then became part of the Kingdom of Aragon.
Why the Battle Happened
In 1343, King Peter IV of Aragon wanted to make his kingdom bigger. He especially wanted to control the seas around Greece. However, his ships needed to pass through waters controlled by the Kingdom of Majorca. To gain control of these important sea routes, Peter IV decided to go to war against Majorca.
He sent his army to Santa Ponsa on the island of Majorca. At the same time, his forces also attacked areas controlled by Majorca to the north, like Cerdanya and Roussillon. By 1345, Peter IV had conquered these northern lands.
Peter IV's Journey to Majorca
Peter IV prepared a large fleet of 16 ships for his invasion of Majorca. This fleet included:
- Eight large galleys (long, oar-powered ships)
- Six ushers (transport ships)
- One carrack (a large sailing ship)
- One log (another type of boat)
On October 11, 1349, Peter IV's forces landed at Cap de Formentor on the island of Majorca. The rest of his fleet sailed to other parts of the island. In total, Peter IV brought about 3,000 foot soldiers and 400 soldiers on horseback.
The Battle Itself
King James III of Majorca led his army to defend his kingdom against the Aragonese attack. The two armies met near the town of Llucmajor. The battle was fierce and lasted all through the night.
The fight ended with a huge loss for the Majorcan army. Many soldiers were killed, and the Majorcan army was destroyed. This allowed Peter IV to take control of Majorca. King James III died during the battle. His son, James IV, was captured by Peter IV's forces.
A noblewoman named Violante of Vilaragut was also taken prisoner during the fighting.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Lluchmayor para niños
