Juan Ximénez Cerdán facts for kids

Juan Ximénez (or Jiménez) Cerdán was an important lawyer and legal expert in the Kingdom of Aragon. He was born around 1355 and lived until after 1435. For many years, from 1390 to 1423, he held a very powerful position called the Justicia Mayor of Aragon. This role was like a chief judge or protector of the people's rights.

Juan Ximénez Cerdán came from a family of legal experts. His father, Domingo Ximénez Cerdán, was also a Justicia. Juan married María Pérez del Sou.

What was the Justicia Mayor?

The Justicia Mayor was a special and powerful role in the Kingdom of Aragon. This person acted as a judge and a protector of the laws. They made sure that the king followed the laws and that the rights of the people were respected. It was a very important job, especially in times when there were disagreements between the king and the people.

Juan Ximénez Cerdán's Important Work

As Justicia Mayor, Juan Ximénez Cerdán was involved in many important events. He led meetings of the Cortes, which were like parliaments or assemblies where important decisions were made.

The Cortes of 1398

In 1398, Juan Ximénez Cerdán presided over a significant Cortes. This meeting happened during a time when there was a dispute over who would be the next king. Two main people wanted the throne: Martin I of Sicily and Matthew of Foix. The Justicia had to help guide the kingdom through this difficult time.

The Cortes of 1412 and the Compromise of Caspe

Another very important Cortes that Juan Ximénez Cerdán led was in 1412. This meeting was crucial because it led to the Compromise of Caspe. The Compromise of Caspe was an agreement that decided who would become the new king of Aragon after the previous king died without an heir. Juan Ximénez Cerdán supported Ferdinand of Antequera to become the new ruler. His support helped Ferdinand become King Ferdinand I of Aragon.

The Letter about the Justicia Office

When Juan Ximénez Cerdán was about eighty years old, he wrote a special letter. It was called a Carta or Letra intimada, which means an "intimate letter." He wrote it at the request of Martín Díez de Aux. In this letter, Juan explained the long history of the Justicia office.

This letter was later published in a very important book of laws called the Fueros y observancias de Aragón in 1624. It became a key source for understanding the old laws and traditions of Aragon. It also helped to spread the legend of the Laws of Sobrarbe.

How the Justicia Office Began

In his letter, Juan Ximénez Cerdán described how the Justicia office first started. He wrote that some people had taken back land from the Moors in the mountains of Sobrarbe. These communities did not have a leader, and there were many arguments among them. To solve these problems and live in peace, they decided to choose a king.

However, they also decided that there should be a special judge between the people and the king. This judge would be called the Justicia of Aragon. Some people even believed that the Justicia was chosen before the king. This meant the king was chosen under the condition that the Justicia would protect the people's rights. Since then, there has always been a Justicia of Aragon in the kingdom. This person would handle all legal matters involving the king, both for people asking for things from the king and for defending themselves against the king.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Jiménez Cerdán para niños