Majorque - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Majorque ( Mallorca in Spanish Catalan and ) is largest of the Balearic Islands (of which the archipelago also includes/understands Minorque, Ibiza and Formentera), at sea the Mediterranean, with broad of Barcelona.

The island counts approximately: 730000 inhabitants. Its capital is Palma de Majorque - Ciutat. It includes/understands 6 principal areas: Tramuntana (mountains, in north), Ponent (in south-west), Raiguer (arable and wine lands with the foot of the mountain), Pla (in the center), Migjorn (in the east), the (south-eastern) and the town of Palma.

She was inhabited as of the prehistoric period (sites of Its Feed, close to the town of Arta), then by the Romans (ruins of Alcúdia, ex-Pollentia Roman), replaced by the Moors Almoravides, then the Almohades (of 902 with 1229), followed Catalans. The island was the center of an independent kingdom which existed of 1276 with 1344, the Royaume of Majorque. The Catalan, official language, in its majorquine variety, actively remains practiced there, at the sides of the Castillan.

Approximately 93% of sound Gross domestic product come from the Tourisme, developed starting from the Années 1960. For the German , Majorque is one of the principal vacation resorts European, thus attracting many foreigners, which was worth in the island the ironic nickname of seventeenth Land . 7% of the permanent residents of the island are Germans. The traditional agricultural activity is centered on the vegetable productions: wine (Binissalem), Almond S, Olive S, Vegetable S.

So in much of spirits Majorque remains synonymous with anarchistic tourism, aspired by the sea and pushed by an urbanization of mass (“the Baléarisation”), the island and the life majorquine offer many aspects which contradict this vision: preserved agricultural villages, various traces of cultures passed, art and culture (at the 15th century, the philosopher Raymond Lulle - Ramon Llull, founded in Majorque a famous school of languages and Théologie), walk and excursion in the mountainous areas, gastronomy.

The tourist surge became more varied (origins and lifestyles), with a growing share of immigration of Europeans of north coming to settle with residence on the spot.

Fortunately for a few years, this “Baléarisation” has been controlled more and more by the government eager to protect its inheritance and its culture. Many zones were issued Natural reserves, thus protecting the littoral against this anarchistic expansion.

History

The human presence with Majorque goes back to prehistory. One found tombs and traces of dwellings dating from the Neolithic , is 6.000 to 4.000 years before Jesus-Christ. The island was occupied by the Carthaginois before being conquered in year 123 before J. - C. by Quintus Caecilius Metellus - which accepted the nickname of " Balearicus" - and to pass under the authority of Rome. The Roman period was favorable, and saw the foundation of Pollentia (Alcúdia) and Palmaria (Palma). The economy rested on the culture of the olive-tree, the vine and on the production of salt.

The Vandales reflect the 'Balearic Islands with bag into 425 or 426 and attached to them their kingdom into 465. In 534, at the time of the effort of reconquest of the Roman empire of occident by Justinien, the general Bélisaire regained the archipelago for the account of Byzance. For the period of Byzantine domination, Christianity was flourishing there and of many churches were built. However, from 707 maritime raids carried out by the Moslems starting from the coasts of North Africa started. These attacks continued until, finally, in year 903, Majorque falls under the domination from the emir Omeyyade from Spain. According to the chronicles of the time, the castle of Alaró was the last bastion held by the Christians. Under the Moslem domination, a brilliant civilization developed which made of Palma, become Madina Mayurqa an important arts center. The island knew one period of great prosperity. The mahométans developed irrigated agriculture and the local arts and crafts. During the decomposition of the caliphate of Cordoue in 1015, Majorque concerned first of all the kingdom of Denia before becoming, between 1087 and 1114 one of the many kingdoms known as " Taifas ".

In 1114, following acts of piracy carried out starting from Majorque against the Christian ships in the Mediterranean, a united army of Pisans and Catalans unloaded in Majorque, put the seat in front of Palma for eight month, took the city and ransacked it. But, during the absence of Raimond-Berenger III of Barcelona, Pisans fled when appeared helps sent by the Almoravides of North Africa. Those controlled until 1203, then replaced by the Almohades until 1229. In 1208, the almohades named governor certain Abú Yahya which behaved in an almost independent way, grateful however a tender of pure form to the central emirate almohade.

The acts of piracy had begun again what determined the commercial cities of Barcelona, Tarragone and Tortosa to request the assistance of the king of Aragon Jacques Ier. In December 1228, it was decided that they would place at the disposal the vessels necessary to a forwarding, the Catalan knights (most) and Aragonese having to receive in payment of their services the spoils and the territories to be conquered on the enemy.

Thus was made: forwarding, including/understanding 15.000 men and 1.500 horses started from Salou, unloaded with Santa Ponsa and demolished the Moslem army with the battle of Portopi on September 13rd, 1229. In December, Palma was taken and its inhabitants passed to the wire of the sword. The great number of corpses resulted in to cause besides an epidemic which decimated the army of the winners. Moreover the arguments about the distribution of the spoils sowed the discord in the troops of the conquerors. But the island was subjected in a few months, only a small pocket of resistance remained until 1232 in the sierra of Tramontana. The Muslim population was flees towards Africa or was reduced in slavery. It was replaced by an immigration primarily Catalan origin.

In his will, Jacques the Conqueror had envisaged to divide his fields by the creation of the Royaume of Majorque, vassal of the kingdom of Aragon and including/understanding the Balearic Islands, Roussillon, Cerdagne, the seigniory of Montpellier, the Viscount of Carladès and the baronie of Omelas. With his death, his/her Jacques son took the name of Jacques II of Majorque and assumed the capacity within the framework of a charter known as " Carta of mow Franquicias".

The existence of this kingdom was of short duration, because the sovereigns of Aragon managed to take again possession in 1349 of it: the death of Jacques III of Majorque to the battle of Lluchmayor against his/her cousin Pierre IV of Aragon mark end of the kingdom. However, and until its death in 1404 his/her Isabelle girl taken refuge in France with the castle of Gallargues, close to Montpellier, which had been yielded to him by the king Charles VI, continued to assert the title of queen of Majorque. Majorque shared then the fate of the kingdom of Aragon, integrated later in the kingdom of Spain.

Principal cities

List municipalities of Majorque

Gallery of images

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