Aragon

This article is about the geographical region. For the poet, see Louis Aragon. For the Olympic medallist, see Aragon (horse).

History

Aragón was a Frankish feudal county (Jaca) before becoming a self-proclaimed kingdom, which was united with the kingdom of Pamplona (later Navarre) in 925. The kingdom of Pamplona included the counties of Aragon, Sobrarbe, and Ribagorza, and the duchy of Castilla. After king Sancho´s death, the kindom was divided between his sons. Ramiro I was initially named king of Aragon; later, after his brother Gionzalo´s death, also of Sobrarbe and Ribagorza. The new kindom grew quickly, and incorporated Navarra. This kingdom conquered the city of Zaragoza in 1118. Split from the kingdom of Navarre, the kingdom of Aragón was re-established in 1035 and lasted until 1707. Aragón was also the name of the crown, because of the dynastic union of a Count of Barcelona (Ramon Berenguer IV) with a Queen of Aragón (Petronila of Aragon), their son inheriting all their respective territories. This Crown was effectively disbanded after the dynastic union with Castile (see below). The Kings of Aragón (called by some present-day historians, to not inadvertently ignore the role of Catalonia in the crown, "Catalan Kings of Aragón", "Catalan Kings", "Count-Kings", or "Counts of Barcelona and Kings of Aragón") ruled territories that consisted of not only the present administrative region of Aragón but also Catalonia, and later the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Sicily, Naples and Sardinia (see Aragonese Empire).

Related Topics:
Pamplona - Ramiro I - Navarra - Zaragoza - 1118 - Kingdom of Navarre - 1035 - 1707 - Count of Barcelona - Ramon Berenguer IV - Petronila of Aragon - Catalonia - Balearic Islands - Valencia - Sicily - Naples - Sardinia - Aragonese Empire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The King of Aragón was the direct King of the Aragonese region, and held also the title of King of Valencia, King of Mallorca (for a time), Count of Barcelona, Lord of Montpellier, and, only temporarily, Duke of Athens and Neopatria. Each of these titles gave him sovereignty over a certain region, and these titles changed as he lost and won territories.

Related Topics:
King of Aragón - King of Valencia - King of Mallorca - Count of Barcelona - Montpellier - Duke of Athens and Neopatria

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The real centre of this kingdom was Barcelona, since it had a seaport and was near the geographical centre of the Crown of Aragon, while Valencia was the most important seaport for trade until approximately the 18th century. Present-day historians usually call the Crown the Crown of Aragón, the "Catalan-Aragonese Confederation" or simply "Catalonia-Aragón", typically depending upon whether that historian lives in Aragón or in Catalonia. The Kingdom of Aragón is called simply Kingdom of Aragón. Saying just "Aragón" is ambiguous and should be avoided. Barcelona was the center of what was in many ways a Mediterranean Empire, ruling the Mediterranean Sea and setting rules for the entire sea (for instance, in the Llibre del Consolat del Mar, in Catalan).

Related Topics:
Barcelona - Crown of Aragón

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~