Graduate Program

History

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

Joshua Birk

Thesis Committee Member

Bailey Young

Thesis Committee Member

Jinhee Lee

Abstract

The defeat of Muslim forces on the island of Mallorca by James I in 1230 determined the course of medieval history in the western Mediterranean, and later helped propel Spain into the Atlantic world. Because the settlement of Mallorca became a stepping-stone towards later expansion, historians have tended to portray this watershed event within the teleological narrative of the Reconquista. Consequently, we receive the image of James I as a farsighted ruler who is aware of the social and economic impact resulting from the conquest. Furthermore, James' favorable policies towards Jews and Muslims in comparison to those of his successors have led to the portrayal of James as an 'enlightened ruler.' This thesis seeks to combat these depictions by contextualizing the invasion, settlement, and subsequent social milieu existing on Mallorca in the generation after its conquest by James.

This project first examines the motives behind James' decision to attack the island focusing on the desire for redemption after the defeat of his father at Muret during the Albigensian Crusades and his need to support the interests of the merchants and nouveauriche nobility. The establishment of Christian hegemony had differing results for the religious minorities. The Jews enjoyed the opportunities of protected trade and the growing need for finance. The Muslims, however, remained the main labor force on the island. Though both minorities experienced levels of marginalization, the specific contributions they provided the economy granted them a degree of protection. James' policies developed from a sense of pragmatism rather than from an 'enlightened' mentality. However, both royal policy and minority agency helped determine interreligious interactions in Mallorca at this time.

Download

Included in

History Commons

Share

COinS