Treaty of Barcelona (1493) facts for kids
The Treaty of Barcelona was an important agreement signed on January 19, 1493. It was made between the country of France and the Crown of Aragon, which was a powerful kingdom in what is now Spain.
Contents
What the Treaty Was About
This treaty mainly dealt with two areas of land: Roussillon and Cerdagne. These regions are located near the border between France and Spain. According to the treaty, France agreed to give these lands back to the Crown of Aragon.
Why France Had the Lands
Earlier in the 1400s, the King of Aragon had borrowed a large sum of money, 300,000 crowns, from France. Roussillon and Cerdagne were used as a guarantee for this loan. This means if the loan wasn't paid back, France could keep the lands. When the loan wasn't repaid in 1462, France took control of these territories.
Why France Gave Them Back
In 1493, Charles VIII of France was planning to invade Naples (a kingdom in Italy). He was worried that Ferdinand II of Aragon, the ruler of Aragon, might team up with other powerful leaders like Maximilian of Austria and Henry VII of England. Charles VIII feared they would try to stop him from taking over Brittany, another region he had recently added to France.
To make sure Ferdinand stayed neutral (didn't pick a side) in his upcoming war, Charles VIII decided to return Roussillon and Cerdagne. This was a way to keep Ferdinand happy and prevent him from joining France's enemies.
A Second Agreement
Later that same year, in August, Ferdinand of Aragon made another promise. In a separate agreement, he promised not to get involved when Charles VIII invaded Naples. This showed that the Treaty of Barcelona was successful in achieving France's goal of keeping Aragon out of its conflicts.
See also
In Spanish: Tratado de Barcelona (1493) para niños
- Treaty of Barcelona (1529)
- List of treaties
