Treaty of Capdepera

The Treaty of Capdepera was an agreement signed between King James I of Aragon and Abu'Abd Allah Muhammad, the Muslim qadi on the island of Menorca, on June 17, 1231, in the current Majorcan town of Capdepera.^[1] The treaty was signed at the Castle of Capdepera, in what was known as the "Torre den Nunis". The treaty permitted the island of Menorca to remain under Muslim rule, while remaining subject to the Aragonese king by means of the payment of a tribute.^[2]

Having conquered Majorca, James I decided against an invasion of the neighbouring island because he needed the forces for the conquest of Valencia. Thus he resorted to a stratagem of dissuasion. He ordered huge bonfires, which could be seen from Menorca, to be lit in the town so that the Muslims who lived there would think that there was a great army ready to invade.^[3] The committee in charge of going to Menorca to parley was formed by the Master of the Knights Templar, Fray Ramón de Serra, the knight Bernardo de Santa Eugenia, and Pero Masa, lord of Sangarrén.^[4]

References

1. Rubén P. Atienza Ciutadell (24 January 2010). "Recordando el Tratado de Capdepera (Remembering the Treaty of Capdepera)" (in Spanish). Editorial Menorca. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
2. "Municipio de Capdepera (Información cultural) (Municipality of Capdepera - Cultural Information)" (in Spanish). Abaces. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
3. Gobierno de las islas Baleares. "Castillo de Capdepera" [The Castle of Capdepera] (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 February 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
4. Real Academia de la Historia (1817). Memorias de la Real Academia de la Historia [Memoirs of the Royal Academy of History] (in Spanish). Vol. 5. Retrieved 11 February 2011.