Union of Aragon facts for kids

The Union of Aragon (also known as the "Union of the Nobles") was a group of important nobles and town leaders in the lands of the Crown of Aragon (a powerful kingdom in what is now Spain) during the late 1200s. They wanted to protect their rights and limit the king's power. Their efforts led to a special document called the Magna Carta of Aragon, which gave more power to the nobles and cities.

Why the Union Started

The Crown of Aragon was made up of different kingdoms that joined together over time. Each part wanted the king's attention and worked hard to keep its own special rules and influence. At the same time, King Peter III was busy conquering Sicily, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this, his lands in Spain were not getting enough attention.

Later, Pope Martin IV called for a special war, known as the Aragonese Crusade, against King Peter. The Pope even said that Peter's subjects no longer had to obey him. To fight this "crusade," Peter had to collect a lot of taxes. The nobles of the kingdom felt that they should have been asked before the king started his campaign in Sicily. So, they decided to form the Union.

Important Meetings and Privileges

In 1283, the nobles and important citizens of Aragon held a meeting (called a cortes) in Zaragoza. There, they promised to support each other's rights. Just three months later, the Courts of Catalonia made a similar promise in Tarragona. At both meetings, King Peter III had to agree to respect the old customs and special laws (called fueros) of the people. He also promised to call the cortes every year. This agreement was known as the General Privilege (Privilegio general).

In December 1286, the Union met again in Zaragoza, and then in January 1287 in Teruel. After short talks with Alfonso III, the Union's members marched into Valencia. They fought some battles against the king's supporters. A religious leader named Valero, from the Dominican Order, helped arrange a meeting in Zaragoza for December 20.

The Union was able to force many promises from the young King Alfonso, who was not very strong. He gave them the Privilege of the Union (Privilegio de la unión). This Privilege said that the Union was the "true guardian of Aragonese law" in the kingdom. It gave many of the king's powers to the nobles. This caused a lot of disorder in the Crown of Aragon, especially during the time of Peter IV. King Alfonso himself was not happy about this. He famously said, "in Aragon there were as many kings as rich men." This meant that too many nobles had power, like kings.

Limiting the King's Power

The Privilege of the Union stated that the king could not take action against any nobleman without first getting permission from the Justicia (a special judge) and the approval of the cortes. The cortes was supposed to meet every year in November in Zaragoza. If the king ever broke the terms of this Privilege, people did not have to obey him. Any action against the king for breaking the rules would not be considered treason. This meant that the nobles could even remove the king from power in very serious situations. By January 1288, the Union was even choosing the king's advisors.

Later, James II refused to accept these Privileges. In 1319, through an agreement called the Act of Union, he made sure that the Crown of Aragon, along with Aragon, Valencia, and Catalonia, would always be united under one king. The idea of the Aragonese Union was also copied by a similar group in Valencia, called the Union of Valencia.

See also

In Spanish: Unión de Aragón para niños