Siege of Hostalric
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Hostalric was the first major action of the War Against John II. It took place on 23 May 1462.
imprisoned Charles of Viana
, the Catalans at the Corts de Lleida formed the Consell del Principat in opposition to the government of John in Catalonia
. The Consell demanded that John liberate Charles immediately and accept the Capitulation of Vilafranca, which prohibited John from entering Catalonia without the permission of the Generalitat
so long as he disagreed with their legislation. John capitulated.
The subsequent death of Charles only three weeks after his liberation threatened the peace. The king sent his wife, Joana Enríquez, to Barcelona
with the intention of overturning the capitulation and sowing discord among the Catalan factions. The relationship between the queen and the representatives of the Catalan government was strained during the six months she was in Barcelona with her son, Charles' successor as heir, Ferdinand
. In March 1462 the queen and the prince left for Girona
, while the pagesos de remença revolted against the government in hopes of receiving royal support and abolishing the mals usos.
In a final preparation for battle, Joana sealed an alliance with the leader of the remences, Francesc de Verntallat. The rebels agreed to bar the pass of the Consell's army at Hostalric, while Joana sent 600 men to reinforce the remences. A ship of arms and food was sent to Sant Feliu de Guíxols
to gain time as the remences organised themselves.
To impress upon the town the urgency of surrender, Pere began destroying the surrounding vineyards and wheat fields. The townspeople opened the gates to the Consell and the town fell without a fight. The castle too was surrendered without combat, but the Tower of Friars, defended by a single man, was attacked by the crossbowmen. Bernat Joan de Cabrera was taken prisoner. On 29 May the Consell sent the remainder of their army stationed at Barcelona to besiege Girona. Hostalric remained a stronghold of the Consell until the end of the war.
Background
In 1460, after John IIJohn II of Aragon
John II the Faithless, also known as the Great was the King of Aragon from 1458 until 1479, and jure uxoris King of Navarre from 1425 until his death. He was the son of Ferdinand I and his wife Eleanor of Alburquerque...
imprisoned Charles of Viana
Charles of Viana
Charles, Prince of Viana , sometimes called Charles IV of Navarre, was the son of King John II of Aragon and Queen Blanche I of Navarre.- Background :...
, the Catalans at the Corts de Lleida formed the Consell del Principat in opposition to the government of John in Catalonia
Principality of Catalonia
The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....
. The Consell demanded that John liberate Charles immediately and accept the Capitulation of Vilafranca, which prohibited John from entering Catalonia without the permission of the Generalitat
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
so long as he disagreed with their legislation. John capitulated.
The subsequent death of Charles only three weeks after his liberation threatened the peace. The king sent his wife, Joana Enríquez, to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
with the intention of overturning the capitulation and sowing discord among the Catalan factions. The relationship between the queen and the representatives of the Catalan government was strained during the six months she was in Barcelona with her son, Charles' successor as heir, Ferdinand
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
. In March 1462 the queen and the prince left for Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
, while the pagesos de remença revolted against the government in hopes of receiving royal support and abolishing the mals usos.
Leadup to battle
At Girona the queen convoked a general council on 23 April 1462. She reorganised the citizen militia and proceeded to repair the city's walls and towers. On 12 May she sent a force of 200 men to Bernat Joan de Cabrera, head of the garrison of Hostalric. On 13 May the Consell del Principat sent an ambassador to the castle to assure that the council's army, which was marching on Girona, would be well received.In a final preparation for battle, Joana sealed an alliance with the leader of the remences, Francesc de Verntallat. The rebels agreed to bar the pass of the Consell's army at Hostalric, while Joana sent 600 men to reinforce the remences. A ship of arms and food was sent to Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Sant Feliu de Guíxols is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Empordà inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated on the Costa Brava and is an important port and tourist centre. The district abuts to the north, the upmarket s'Agaró resort built round the Sant Pol Beach. In addition to tourism and the...
to gain time as the remences organised themselves.
Siege
The army of the Consell was commanded by captain Pere de Bell-lloc i de Sentmenat. After easily frightening the remences of Verntallat into retreat on 23 May, Pere besieged Hostalric. The remences fled to Girona.To impress upon the town the urgency of surrender, Pere began destroying the surrounding vineyards and wheat fields. The townspeople opened the gates to the Consell and the town fell without a fight. The castle too was surrendered without combat, but the Tower of Friars, defended by a single man, was attacked by the crossbowmen. Bernat Joan de Cabrera was taken prisoner. On 29 May the Consell sent the remainder of their army stationed at Barcelona to besiege Girona. Hostalric remained a stronghold of the Consell until the end of the war.