Treaty of Cazola facts for kids

Map of the Treaty of Cazola (spanish)

The Treaty of Cazola (also called Cazorla) was an important agreement signed in 1179. It happened in a place called Soria in Spain. This treaty was made between two powerful kings: Alfonso II of Aragon and Alfonso VIII of Castile.

The main goal of this treaty was to divide up parts of Andalusia. This was land that Christian kingdoms wanted to take back from Muslim rule during a long period called the Reconquista. The kings wanted to avoid fighting each other over who got which piece of land. By dividing the land, they hoped to make the Reconquista go more smoothly without their own kingdoms getting in the way.

Who Signed the Treaty of Cazola?

The Treaty of Cazola was signed by two kings from different parts of what is now Spain.

• Alfonso II was the King of Aragon. Aragon was a kingdom in the northeast.
• Alfonso VIII was the King of Castile. Castile was a large and powerful kingdom in the center of the Iberian Peninsula.

These two kings decided to work together to avoid future arguments over land.

What Did the Treaty Decide?

The treaty clearly marked out which areas each kingdom could conquer.

• Aragon was given the right to conquer areas like Xàtiva, Denia, and Biar. This area stretched from Biar all the way to Calpe, heading towards the city of Valencia.
• Castile was given all the lands on the other side of Biar. This meant Castile could conquer territories further west and south.

This new agreement changed some things from an older treaty called the Treaty of Tudilén. In the new Treaty of Cazola, Aragon lost its right to take over the Murcia area. That land was now set aside for Castile.

Keeping the Agreement Strong

The kings wanted this treaty to last forever. They agreed that their children and future rulers would also have to follow it.

• Neither king could give away their part of the land.
• Neither king could make the other king's part smaller.
• Neither king could stop the other from conquering the land that was rightfully theirs according to the treaty.

What Happened After the Treaty?

Even though the treaty was meant to last forever, both kings (or their successors) did not always follow it perfectly. Because of these disagreements, they had to sign another treaty much later, in 1244. This new agreement was called the Treaty of Almizra.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Cazola para niños