Jaime I, King of Aragon, conquered the Balearic Islands from 1229-1235 with the help of Catalan merchants and Templar Knights. The Templars had tutored Jaime as a boy and helped him during the conquest. As a reward, Jaime donated land and resources on Mallorca to the Templar Order. The Templars established an influential presence on the islands until the entire Order was abolished in 1314, when the last Grand Master was burned at the stake.

1. JAIME I,
THE
CONQUEST
OF
MALLORCA
AND
THE ORDER
OF THE
TEMPLAR
KNIGHTSBy: Jaime Blanco

2. The Reconquest of the territories inside the
Iberian Peninsula is quite known.
But what happened in other kingdoms, for
example, in the eastern islands of al-Andalus
(today Balearic Islands)?

3. The control of the Byzantine Empire over Mallorca, Menorca
and the Pitiusas Islands (Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera) was
ineffective. The rulers had begun to build castles in the
mountains and the rest of their inhabitants dedicated their
efforts to defend themselves against pirates, and the Muslims
started expeditions in the islands.
The first expedition of the Muslims against the islands was in
the year 707. Eventually, the Christians asked the Emperor
Charlemagne for help around the year 800.
Emperor Charlemagne

4. The Muslim domination (902-1229) began in Mallorca, when Issam al-Khawlaní (a
powerful man of the Emir of Cordoba) began a pilgrimage to Mecca, with his army of
ships. A storm forced him to take refuge in Mallorca and decided to conquer it.
After a hard resistance of the Balearics, in the castles (it endured 8 years), the
Muslims imposed their rule over the islands, which were annexed to the Emirate of
Cordoba, as the Eastern Islands of al-Andalus.
Issam, promoted the emigration of Muslims from the Peninsula and from North
Africa. Eventually, the entire population was of Muslim religion and spoke Arabic.

5. JAIME I
Don Jaime I King of Aragón, was born in Montpellier, today
French territory, son of Pedro II the Catholic, King of Aragón and
Maria de Montpellier. He was just six years old when his father
died in battle. Then Jaime was captured and taken prisoner.
Thanks to the intervention of his mother to Pope Inocencio III,
he would be released by the Christians and would go to the
tutelage of the Templar Knights, who instructed the boy to be a
King.
Jaime I

6. Jaime went to the castle of Monzón, under the tutelage of the
Templars and the regency of his uncle Sancho Raimúndez, son of
Ramón Berenguer IV and Petronila de Aragón. In 1218 he was
declared adult, Count of Barcelona and heir of two important
lineages: the House of Aragon and that of the emperors of
Byzantium.
Petronila de Aragón and Ramón Berenguer IV Sancho Raimúndez

7. In December 1228, Don Jaime gathered the nobles in Lleida
and agreed the conquest of the Balearic Archipielagus,
encouraged by merchants of Catalonia, victims of the
constant attacks of the pirates and that wanted to open new
markets for their products.

8. Disembarked in Santa Ponsa, Aragonese and Catalans,
helped by some Templar Knights, went inland, facing the
Muslims. The triumph of the Christians was total and the
dispersion of the Arabs allowed them to reach Palma de
Mallorca.

9. The Muslims became strong in the mountains, while the
Spanish entered their territory, taking one by one, villas and
cities. Those islanders who did not fall in combat, were
enslaved or fled to Africa, closely followed by the victorious
troops, who saw in the Muslims enemies of the faith, and had
no mercy. Four years later, Ibiza, Formentera and the other
islands of the archipielagus would fall under the same
condition.

10. As thanks, Jaime I donated to the Order of the Temple, the
third part of the city of Palma, the portion of land needed
to maintain 580 knights, mills and the Port of Palma.

11. THE TEMPLE KNIGHTS
The Order of the Temple was one of the most famous
Christian military orders. It was officially approved by
the Roman Catholic Church, around 1129.

12. At first, the Order, had few
financial resources and survived
by donations.
Its emblem was of two knights
mounted on a single horse,
highlighting the poverty of the
Order.
In 1139, Pope Inocencio II
decided that the Order would be
exempt from obedience to local
laws, could pass freely across all
borders, were not required to
pay taxes and were exempt from
all authority, except that of the
Pope.
Inocencio II

13. They acquired extensive land, both in Europe and the Middle
East, built churches and castles and had their own fleet of
ships.

14. The Order lasted for almost 2 centuries. In the middle of the 12th century,
the Muslim world became more united. However, discord between Christian
factions over the Holy Land increased (the Templar Knights occasionally
disagreed with the other two Christian military orders, the Hospitalary
Knights and the Teutonic Knights) and Christian positions were weak,
politically and militarily.
Hospitalary Knight Temple Knight Teutonic Knight

15. The end of the Order came, when
the last Grand Master, Fray Jacques
de Molay refused to accept the
project to merge military orders,
under a single king, despite the
pressure of the Pope.
Finally, Jacques was called by Pope
Clemente V for a final attempt,
whose failure would mark the
destiny of the Order. Clement V
wrote a lie that accused them of
being traitors and pagans and
commended all Christian kings in
Europe to stop all the Templars and
steal their properties.
Jacques de Molay

16. In the end they were, one by one, sentenced to death.
Their properties were expropriated.
Grand Master Jacques de Molay, after a 7 year
imprisonment, died at the stake in 1314.

17. THE END