Francesc de Verntallat facts for kids
Francesc de Verntallat was a brave Catalan nobleman. He was born in Sant Privat d'en Bas around 1426 or 1428. He passed away in Sant Feliu de Pallerols in 1498 or 1499.
Verntallat led the Remensa Army during the War of the Remences. This war was a big conflict happening at the same time as the Catalan Civil War. Because of his leadership, King John II of Aragon rewarded him. The King made Verntallat the viscount of Hostoles. Verntallat belonged to the lower noble class of the Catalan society.
During the Second War of the Remences, Verntallat took a different path. He represented the moderate Remences. These people wanted to solve the conflict peacefully. They hoped the Catalan-Aragonese monarchy would help. Their efforts led to the Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe. This important agreement was issued in 1486 by King Ferdinand II of Aragon.
When the Catalan Civil War began, it was a fight between the Generalitat and King John II of Aragon. Many lower nobles supported the King. King John II connected with the remensa peasants. He also reached out to the gentlemen. This helped him gain the support of many farmers.
Leading the Remensa Army
Francesc de Verntallat gathered a small army. These were workers from the Pyrenees mountains. They attacked the Bestracà Castle. The castle lord there was holding a remensa peasant. This peasant could not pay or did not want to pay.
Verntallat later besieged the castle of Castellfollit. He did this for a similar reason. During the siege of Girona, Queen Juana Enríquez asked for his help. She and her son, Infante Ferdinand, were trapped in the city. The Queen was very thankful for the Remences' actions. She gave Verntallat the title of Royal Captain. From then on, his men were known as Verntallats.
Verntallat and his army took control of Olot and Castellfollit de la Roca. They also captured Banyoles and mountain castles. They fought against larger forces from the Generalitat. These forces included Hug Roger III . Other leaders were Henry IV of Castile, Peter of Portugal, and John II, Duke of Lorraine.
The war had many ups and downs. Finally, on October 28, 1472, King John II's troops reached Barcelona. There, they signed the Capitulation of Pedralbes. This agreement allowed the Principality of Catalonia to keep its old laws and special rights.
How the Army Was Organized
The Remences troops had a special way of organizing. They had captains and sub-captains. For every three tenants, two would farm the land of the third. The third tenant would then go to fight. This system was used in other guerrilla groups in the country later on. Some historians even compare Verntallat to a Catalan Robin Hood.
The Second Remensa War
The Second Remensa War started in 1484. This time, Verntallat did not join the rebellion. The rebellion was led by Pere Joan Sala. Sala had been Verntallat's lieutenant in the first war. Instead, Verntallat stayed out of the main fight. He led the moderate group of the Remensa movement.
After Joan Sala's defeat, the lords felt they had won. They wanted to keep and even increase the "evil customs." These were unfair rules for the peasants. But Verntallat managed to keep his mountain castles and his forces. King Ferdinand II sent Íñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones, the Count of Tendilla, to end the war. The Count sought out Verntallat. He wanted Verntallat to represent the peasants in the agreement. This led to the important Sentencia de Guadalupe.
After the main demands of the Remences were met, Verntallat stayed at the Court of the Catholic Monarchs for some time. Later, he returned to his castle in Sant Feliu de Pallerols. He died there at the end of the century.
Images for kids
-
A robot for kids.
