The Rise and Expansion of the Catalan Counties and the Crown of Aragon

Early History of the Catalan Counties

Key Events: 732, 785, and 801

These years mark outstanding moments in the early history of the region:

• 732: Significant expansion of Islam into Europe (halted at the Battle of Poitiers).
• 785: The inhabitants of Girona surrendered peacefully to the Frankish forces.
• 801: Charlemagne's army successfully captured Barcelona.

Defining the Hispanic March (8th Century)

The Hispanic March comprised lands south of the Pyrenees that were under the dominion of the Franks (the Carolingian Empire). These lands were organized into counties, including:

• Barcelona
• Girona
• Besalú (or Osona)

Establishing Hereditary Rule

Initially, the counts were not hereditary; the Frankish king decided who would rule. This changed when counts began requesting and eventually asserting the right for their sons to succeed them. This shift established hereditary succession in the Catalan counties, leading to their de facto independence from the French monarchy.

The Crown of Aragon: Union and Reconquest

The Union of Aragon and Catalonia (1137)

The Catalan counties became united with the Kingdom of Aragon in 1137. This union occurred through the marriage of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, and Petronilla, Queen of Aragon. This event established the dynastic union that formed the Crown of Aragon.

Major Reconquest Milestones (1148–1149)

The following years mark crucial steps in the expansion and consolidation of the Catalan territory during the Reconquista:

• 1148: Conquest and occupation of Tortosa.
• 1149: Conquest and occupation of Lleida.
• 1153: This period marked the final stages of Muslim control in the region, following the major conquests.

Catalan Power and Mediterranean Reach

Expansion North: Occitania and French Conflict

For over 200 years, the Catalan counties expanded into Occitania (Southern France) by acquiring lands, establishing agreements, and arranging strategic marriages with various Occitan counties. This expansion ceased because the French monarchy opposed the growing Catalan influence, culminating in conflicts like the Albigensian Crusade, where Catalan interests were defeated.

Conquest of Mallorca and Valencia

Once expansion north was barred, Catalonia turned its interests toward the south, focusing on Valencia and Mallorca. Key events of these conquests include:

• Mallorca: The island was conquered quickly (starting 1229) and subsequently repopulated primarily by Catalan people.
• Valencia: The conquest of Valencia was more challenging, taking place over several years, roughly from 1232 up to 1245.

Dominance in the Western Mediterranean

The domains of the Crown of Aragon extended across much of the Western Mediterranean. These territories were conquered through strategic military campaigns and dynastic claims, leading to the acquisition of islands and kingdoms such as Sicily, Sardinia, and later, Naples (under Alfonso the Magnanimous in the 15th century).

The Almogavars: Mercenaries of the Crown

The Almogavars were professional Catalan and Aragonese soldiers, renowned for their ferocity and effectiveness. They were famously hired by the Byzantine Emperor to fight against the Turks in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, as the Emperor felt his empire was severely threatened.