Sancho of Majorca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sancho
King of Majorca
Reign	29 May 1311 – 4 September 1324
Predecessor	James II
Successor	James III
Born	c. 1274 Pina, Mallorca
Died	4 September 1324 (aged 49–50) Formiguères
Burial	Cathedral of Perpignan
Spouse	Maria of Naples
House	House of Barcelona
Father	James II of Majorca
Mother	Esclaramunda of Foix
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Sancho (Catalan: Sanç; 1274 – 4 September 1324) was a king known as the Pacific or the Peaceful. He ruled as King of Majorca, Count of Roussillon, Cerdanya, and Lord of Montpellier. His reign lasted for 13 years, from 1311 until his death.

Sancho's time as king was quite calm and peaceful. This was very different from the reigns of his father, James II, and his nephew, James III. They both faced many challenges and problems during their time as rulers.

Early Life and Challenges

Sancho was born around 1274 in Pina, Mallorca. He was one of five children and the second son of James II and Esclaramunda of Foix. His father was the king of Majorca and other nearby lands. However, his father had to answer to the kings of Aragon, who were more powerful.

King James II tried to become fully independent. This led to a conflict with his nephew, King Alfonso III of Aragon. In 1286, King Alfonso III removed James II from power. Sancho, his mother, and his older brother, James, were taken prisoner. The queen was later set free, but the brothers were kept locked up for several years.

In 1295, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Anagni was signed. This treaty led to the release of Sancho and his brother. It also meant that the Balearic islands were returned to their father. After their release, the princes were sent to the royal court in Paris, France, to continue their education.

Becoming Heir to the Throne

Sancho's family was known for being very religious. In 1299, his older brother, James, decided not to become king. Instead, he chose to become a Franciscan monk. This meant that Sancho became the next in line to inherit his father's lands.

Even though Sancho had some health problems, he was officially recognized as the heir apparent in 1302. This was because his younger brother, Ferdinand, did not get along with their father.

Personal Life and Interests

A tower at King Sancho's palace in Valldemossa, where he liked to stay.

Sancho married Maria of Naples, the daughter of King Charles II of Naples. Their marriage ceremony took place in person five years later. This marriage was part of a bigger plan to create peace between two powerful royal families. One family ruled Aragon, Majorca, and Sicily. The other ruled the Kingdom of Naples.

Sancho's cousin, James II of Aragon, suggested the marriage. James II was already married to Maria's sister, Blanche. Another one of Maria's sisters, Eleanor, married Sancho's cousin, Frederick III of Sicily. These marriages helped bring the families closer.

Health and Hobbies

Sancho was not a very strong person and often suffered from asthma. Because of this, he liked to spend a lot of time in the fresh air of the mountains. He built his home in Valldemossa. Later, a famous monastery called the Valldemossa Charterhouse was built on the site of his palace.

The King also enjoyed sports. He brought partridges, a type of bird, to the islands. He also created strict laws to stop people from illegally hunting animals.

Sancho's Time as King

Sancho became king when his father, James II, passed away on May 29, 1311. In the early years of his rule, Sancho worked hard to keep his kingdom stable. However, Palma de Mallorca, the main city, wanted to have more control over its own affairs.

His relationship with the Kingdom of Aragon was generally good during his reign. He quickly responded when James II of Aragon asked for help. Sancho assisted him in taking over Sardinia. He showed his loyalty to his cousin, which made James II of Aragon trust him greatly. Because of this, Sancho was excused from having to attend future meetings with the Aragonese parliament.

Royal Treasury and Jewish Community

Sancho wanted to build a strong navy that could compete with the powerful trading cities of Genoa and Venice. To fund this, he collected money from the Jewish people living in his kingdom. However, his big plans for the navy did not come true.

The King's feelings towards his Jewish subjects changed over time. In 1315, he was upset when two German Christians on the island converted to Judaism. In response, he fined the Jewish community heavily and took away their property, including their synagogue. He also removed all the special rights and freedoms that he and previous kings had given them.

Later, he allowed the Jewish community to build a new synagogue, even though they did not have enough money for it. In 1323, he gave them financial rewards for helping the royal treasury and for helping with the building of the Cathedral of Perpignan.

Succession and Death

Sancho's tomb in the Cathedral of Perpignan.

King Sancho and his wife did not have any children. This created a problem for who would become king after him. James II of Aragon believed that if Sancho died without a child, the crown should return to him. However, Sancho wanted to prevent this from happening.

Sancho had two brothers. The older one, Ferdinand, had died before him. The younger brother, Philip, had chosen to become a religious leader. Ferdinand, however, had two sons, James and Ferdinand.

In 1322, Sancho made a will that explained who would inherit the throne. If he had no children, the crown would go to James. If James died without children, it would go to the younger Ferdinand. Only if both boys died without children would the crown go to the King of Aragon.

Sancho then prepared his kingdom for his young nephew, James, to take over. He set up a group of six people called a regency council. This council would help rule the kingdom until James was old enough. Three members were from Majorca, and three were from Roussillon and Cerdagne. The King of Aragon was very angry about this, and war almost started. But King Charles IV of France supported Sancho.

In the summer of 1324, Sancho, who suffered from asthma, went to Formiguères to escape the heat. However, this did not help. He died from an asthma attack on September 4, 1324. His nephew, James III, became the next king.

When Sancho's funeral procession arrived in Perpignan on September 11, there was a big commotion. The townspeople attacked the nobles who were with his body and took the King's remains. Sancho's remains are now buried in the new Cathedral of Perpignan, a place he had chosen for his burial.

Family tree

See also

In Spanish: Sancho I de Mallorca para niños