Treaty of Capdepera facts for kids
The Treaty of Capdepera was an important agreement signed a long time ago, on June 17, 1231. It was made between King James I of Aragon and a Muslim leader named Abu'Abd Allah Muhammad, who was the main judge (called a qadi) on the island of Menorca. They signed the treaty in a town in Majorca called Capdepera, at the old Castle of Capdepera. This treaty allowed Menorca to stay under Muslim rule, but they had to pay money (a tribute) to the Aragonese king.
Why Was the Treaty Signed?
King James I had just conquered Majorca. He really wanted to conquer the nearby island of Menorca too. However, he needed his army for another big fight: to conquer Valencia. So, he decided not to invade Menorca directly. Instead, he came up with a clever plan to make the people of Menorca think he had a huge army ready to attack.
The Clever Trick
King James I ordered his soldiers to light many big bonfires in Capdepera. These fires were so large that they could be seen all the way from Menorca! The idea was to make the Muslims on Menorca believe that a massive army was gathered and ready to invade their island. This trick worked perfectly. The people of Menorca got scared and decided to negotiate instead of fighting.
Who Was Involved?
After the bonfires, a group of important people went to Menorca to talk and make a deal. This group included Fray Ramón de Serra, who was the Master of the Knights Templar (a famous group of knights). Also, the knight Bernardo de Santa Eugenia and a lord named Pero Masa from Sangarrén were part of the team. They were the ones who helped create the Treaty of Capdepera, which kept the peace and avoided a battle.
