Treaty of Tarascon facts for kids

The Treaty of Tarascon was an important agreement signed in 1291. It aimed to end a conflict called the Aragonese Crusade. This crusade was part of a bigger fight known as the War of the Sicilian Vespers.

The treaty was signed in a town called Tarascon, which was located between Avignon (where the Pope lived) and Arles. The main people who signed it were Pope Nicholas IV, Philip IV of France, Charles II of Naples, and Alfonso III of Aragón.

The main goal of this treaty was to stop the Aragonese kingdom from becoming too powerful, especially over Sicily. At that time, Sicily was ruled by Alfonso's brother, James II. The Aragonese Crusade had started six years earlier when Philip's uncle, Charles of Valois, tried to take over Aragón from Alfonso's father, Peter III of Aragon. This "crusade" was approved by an earlier Pope, Pope Martin IV.

What Alfonso III Had to Do

The treaty made Alfonso III of Aragón agree to several things:

• He had to travel to Rome himself to have a special church punishment called excommunication lifted. This meant he would be allowed back into the church.
• He needed to pay a large amount of gold (thirty ounces) to the church.
• He had to go on a crusade to the Holy Land. A crusade was a religious war, usually to take back holy places.
• He had to remove all knights from Aragón and Catalonia who were helping his brother James in Sicily.

Alfonso also promised that his brother James would not rule Sicily if the Pope did not want him to. He was also advised to make peace with the king of Castile, Sancho IV.

What the Pope Did

For his part, Pope Nicholas IV took back the special permission he had given to Charles of Valois to be king of Aragón. The Pope also recognized the rights of James II of Majorca.

Why the Treaty Didn't Last

Sadly, the Treaty of Tarascon did not last long. Alfonso III of Aragón died just over a month after signing it. Because of his death, all the agreements in the treaty became meaningless.

His brother, James, who had not signed the treaty, now became king of both Aragón and Sicily. He did not want to give up either kingdom. Because of this, a new agreement was needed. The Treaty of Tarascon was later replaced by the Treaty of Anagni in 1295. This new treaty was arranged by a stronger Pope, Boniface VIII. The Treaty of Anagni finally ended the conflict, and it allowed the Aragonese to keep control of Sicily.

See also

• List of treaties