James II of Majorca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James II |
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| King of Majorca | |
| Reign | 1276–1286, 1295–1311 |
| Born | 31 May 1243 |
| Died | 29 May 1311 (aged 67) |
| Spouse | Esclaramunda of Foix |
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| House | Barcelona |
| Father | James I of Aragon |
| Mother | Violant of Hungary |
James II (Catalan: Jaume) was born on May 31, 1243, and died on May 29, 1311. He was the King of Majorca and also the Lord of Montpellier. He ruled from 1276 until his death.
James was the second son of James I of Aragon, a very important king. His mother was Violant, a princess from Hungary. In 1279, James II signed a special agreement called the Treaty of Perpignan. This treaty made him a vassal (meaning he had to follow the rules of) the Crown of Aragon.
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Becoming King of Majorca
James inherited a kingdom from his father, James I of Aragon. This kingdom included three of the Balearic Islands: Majorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. He also gained control of the areas of Roussillon and Cerdanya.
His kingdom also included Montpellier, a place called Aumelàs, and Carladès. He even received payments from Menorca, another Balearic island. Menorca was still controlled by Muslims during his life.
Challenges and Changes
James ruled as a vassal to his brother, Peter III of Aragon. This meant he was in a lower position, and he really wanted to be fully independent.
In 1276, a wise man named Ramon Llull convinced James to help fund a special school. This school was for Franciscan missionaries to learn languages at Miramar.
France and Aragon were often fighting over control of Sicily. James had lands near the border that were hard to defend. To protect his kingdom, he made a deal with King Philip III of France. This made things difficult between Aragon and Majorca.
Peter of Aragon took over Perpignan. James managed to escape, but Peter captured two of James's sons. Because of this, James decided to side with the French. His nephew, Alfonso III of Aragon, later took over the Balearic Islands. However, these islands were given back to James in 1295 by the Treaty of Anagni.
Improving the Kingdom
After getting his kingdom back, James worked hard to make it stronger. He focused on improving cities and towns. He also created new rules for farming and made sure his kingdom was well-defended.
He worked to improve the economy of Majorca. He encouraged people to start new farms in the countryside. He also increased the money the royal family collected. James helped create new trading posts in the Kingdom of Granada.
He even created a new money system for his kingdom. James also supported the growth of textile (cloth-making) industries. He worked to make the power of the king stronger than that of the nobles and the Church.
Building Projects
King James II ordered the building of many important palaces and castles. These included a grand palace in Perpignan. He also built the Palace of Almudaina and the Cathedral of Santa María in Palma de Mallorca. This cathedral is known today as La Seu.
Finally, he ordered the construction of the impressive Bellver Castle. These buildings showed the power and wealth of his kingdom.
In 1302, even though he was a vassal of Aragon, James started setting up his own trading offices. These offices were along the coast of North Africa.
James II's Family
James married Esclaramunda of Foix in 1275. This marriage was his own idea, not his father's. Esclaramunda was the daughter of Roger IV of Foix. They had six children together:
- James: He became a Franciscan monk before his father passed away.
- Sancho: He became king after his father, James II.
- Sancha: She married Robert of Naples.
- Elizabeth: She became the wife of Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena.
- Ferdinand: He was the father of James III.
- Philip: He was a regent (someone who rules for a young king) in Majorca.
James also had one daughter outside of his marriage:
- Saura: She married Berengeur de Villaragut. They had a daughter named Violante of Vilaragut.
See also
In Spanish: Jaime II de Mallorca para niños
