Joan Ramon II, Count of Cardona facts for kids

Joan Ramon II Folc de Cardona (born 1400, died 1471) was an important nobleman from Catalonia, a region in Spain. He held several important titles, including the 3rd Count of Cardona and Count-consort of Prades. He was also the Viscount of Vilamur. His full name was Juan Ramón Folch de Cardona y Ximenez de Arenós. His parents were Joan Ramon I, 2nd Count of Cardona, and Joana de Gandia.

A Life of Nobility

Joan Ramon II was born around the year 1400. When he was just four years old, in 1404, he received the title of Viscount of Vilamur from his family.

Becoming a Count and Admiral

After his father, the 2nd Count of Cardona, passed away, Joan Ramon II inherited the important title of Admiral of Aragon. This meant he was a top commander of the navy for the Kingdom of Aragon.

On May 22, 1423, he officially became the 3rd Count of Cardona. This was confirmed by the Queen, who was ruling Aragon and Catalonia while her husband, King Alfonso V of Aragon, was away in Naples, Italy.

Military Actions and Royal Service

Around 1430, Joan Ramon II led a large fleet of 22 galleys (ships) and eight big ships. He was helping King Alfonso V of Aragon, who was facing a difficult situation in Naples.

On his way back home, Joan Ramon II captured the French city of Marseille. For his bravery, King John II of Aragon (Alfonso V's brother) gave him the town of Termes in Sicily in 1463. At this time, King John II was in Tudela, fighting with his son, Charles of Viana, over the throne of Navarre.

Later, in 1468, King John II of Aragon was having a tough time fighting against his own people in Catalonia. Joan Ramon II, the 3rd Count of Cardona, provided military help to King John II's younger son, Ferdinand II of Aragon, who was 16 years old at the time.

Marriage and New Titles

After an important agreement called the Compromise of Caspe, there were plans for Joan Ramon II to marry Cecilia de Urgell. She was the sister of Jaume, Count of Urgell, who had lost his chance to become king. However, these marriage plans did not work out by 1418.

Instead, in 1418, Joan Ramon II married Joana de Prades. She was a younger sister of Queen Margarida, who was the widow of the old King Martin I of Aragon. Joana also had the title of Lady of the Barony of Entença.

In 1425, by a royal decision, Joana inherited the county of Prades and the barony of Entenza. This meant that Joan Ramon II became the Count of Prades during his father's lifetime. This new title was actually considered more important than his father's title of Count of Cardona. Even so, father and son always appeared together in parliament. Joan Ramon II was very active in politics.

Retirement and Later Life

In 1442, Joan Ramon II's father passed away, and he inherited the title of Count of Cardona. A few years later, in 1445, he decided to give up his titles of Prades and Vilamur to his own son, Joan Ramon III.

Around 1445, Joan Ramon II also started to live a more quiet life in Cardona. He chose to stay out of politics. However, when a civil war began in 1462, the county of Cardona remained loyal to King John II of Aragon. Even though the old count was not active, this loyalty caused the Catalan authorities to declare him an enemy in 1462.

Count Joan Ramon II passed away in 1471 in Cardona.

Family

Joan Ramon II was the son of Joan Ramon I, 2nd Count of Cardona, and Joana de Gandia. He married Joana de Prades.

Sources

• Enciclopedia catalana

See also

In Spanish: Joan Ramon Folc II de Cardona para niños