Treaty of Almizra
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Almizra was the third of a series of three treaties between the Crowns of Aragon
and Castile
meant to determine the limits of their expansion into Andalusia
so as to prevent squabbling between the Christian princes. Specifically, it defined the borders of the Kingdom of Valencia
. James I of Aragon
signed it on 26 March 1244, but Alfonso X of Castile
did not affirm it until much later. According to the treaty, all lands south of a line from Biar
to Villajoyosa through Busot
were reserved for Castile.
The treaty succeeded those of Tudilén
and Cazorla
, which were constantly breached. The clause by which neither party seemed capable of residing was that neither crown should diminish the partition assigned to the other or put any obstacle in the way of the other attaining unto his portion. That clause was broken when James I conquered Caudete
, Villena
, and Sax
, which technically belonged to Castile. At the same time, the infante Alfonso was holding Játiva in the zone assigned to Aragon.
The treaty first received mention in the second chapter of Llibre dels fets
. The text of the treaty itself, however, was finally published in 1905. The treaty was signed in Campo de Mirra
, where a monument, erected in 1977, still remembers it. In 1296, during a break in the war between the two crowns, James II of Aragon
conquered the Kingdom of Murcia. The kingdom was divided and Medio Vinalopó, Bajo Vinalopó, L'Alacantí, and Vega Baja del Segura
were incorporated into Valencia by the treaties of Torrellas
(1304) and Elche
(1305).
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
and Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
meant to determine the limits of their expansion into Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
so as to prevent squabbling between the Christian princes. Specifically, it defined the borders of the Kingdom of Valencia
Kingdom of Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
. James I of Aragon
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
signed it on 26 March 1244, but Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
did not affirm it until much later. According to the treaty, all lands south of a line from Biar
Biar
Biar is a town in the comarca of Alt Vinalopó, province of Alicante, Spain. Biar lies at the foot of the Serra de Mariola and is located 39km from the city of Alicante.The economy in Biar is based on manufacture, particularly dolls, and pottery....
to Villajoyosa through Busot
Busot
Busot is a municipality in the comarca of Alacantí in the Valencian Community, Spain.The moros i cristians festivals are held from the Friday to the Monday on the weekend after Easter weekend every year....
were reserved for Castile.
The treaty succeeded those of Tudilén
Treaty of Tudilén
The Treaty of Tudilén was signed between Alfonso VII of León and Castile and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona in 1151 at Tudilén, near Aguas Caldas in Navarre, modern Baños de Fitero, then just Fitero...
and Cazorla
Treaty of Cazorla
The Treaty of Cazola was signed in 1179 in Soria between Alfonso II of Aragon and Alfonso VIII of Castile. The pact divided Andalusia into separate zones of conquest for the two kingdoms, so that the work of the Reconquista would not be stymied by internecine feuding over spoils among the Christians...
, which were constantly breached. The clause by which neither party seemed capable of residing was that neither crown should diminish the partition assigned to the other or put any obstacle in the way of the other attaining unto his portion. That clause was broken when James I conquered Caudete
Caudete
Caudete is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 10.157 and is located at ....
, Villena
Villena
Villena is a city in Spain, in the Valencian Community. It is located at the northwest part of Alicante, and borders to the west with Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia, to the north with the province of Valencia and to the east and south with the province of Alicante. It is the capital of the comarca...
, and Sax
Sax, Alicante
Sax is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Vinalopó, province of Alicante, Valencian Community.-History:There are archaeological findings in the area dating to the Bronze Age, as well as an Iberian necropolis and remains of Roman villas....
, which technically belonged to Castile. At the same time, the infante Alfonso was holding Játiva in the zone assigned to Aragon.
The treaty first received mention in the second chapter of Llibre dels fets
Llibre dels fets
The Llibre dels fets is a collection of autobiographical chronicles of the reign of James the Conqueror, King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona. It is written in Catalan in the first person and describes the life of James. Though written at his dictation and with his editing, the work was not...
. The text of the treaty itself, however, was finally published in 1905. The treaty was signed in Campo de Mirra
Campo de Mirra
Campo de Mirra or El Camp de Mirra is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Vinalopó in the Valencian Community, Spain....
, where a monument, erected in 1977, still remembers it. In 1296, during a break in the war between the two crowns, James II of Aragon
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
conquered the Kingdom of Murcia. The kingdom was divided and Medio Vinalopó, Bajo Vinalopó, L'Alacantí, and Vega Baja del Segura
Vega Baja del Segura
Vega Baja del Segura is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.To the North its neighbouring comarcas are the Baix Vinalopó and Vinalopó Mitjà...
were incorporated into Valencia by the treaties of Torrellas
Treaty of Torrellas
The Treaty of Torrellas , signed in Zaragoza in 1304, settled the question of conquest of the Kingdom of Murcia, thitherto a dependency of the Crown of Castile, by James II of Aragon....
(1304) and Elche
Treaty of Elche
The Treaty of Elche was an agreement between the Crowns of Castile and Aragon signed in 1305. The treaty revised the borders put down by the Treaty of Torrellas in the previous year. The borders under dispute were those created by the conquests of James II of Aragon in Murcia between 1296 and 1300....
(1305).