Castell d'Alaró
8
War episodes
Despite its great importance as a defensive point on the island of Mallorca, the Castle was not directly involved in many military conflicts. This is partly explained by its reputation for being impregnable, but also by the military and political circumstances of each historical period.
At the beginning of the tenth century, specifically between the years 902 and 903, a brief account by the Andalusi geographer Al-Zuhri states that the Christian inhabitants of the Balearic Islands resisted the Muslim conquest led by Isam al-Jawlani here for almost nine years. Eventually, deprived of supplies, they most likely negotiated their surrender.
The conquest of Mallorca by James I in 1229 is far better documented. Both Christian and Muslim sources reveal that the island’s castles were the final Andalusi strongholds and did not surrender until 1231, when the rest of the territory had already been conquered. James I himself, in the Book of Deeds, described Alaró Castle as a fortress almost impossible to assault.
Perhaps the best-known military episode is that of Cabrit and Bassa in 1285, which we will discuss later upon reaching the hermitage.
In 1343, however, a negotiated surrender did take place. That year, Peter IV of Aragon conquered the Kingdom of Mallorca, ruled by James III. Unlike other places, such as Pollença Castle, most Mallorcan fortresses surrendered peacefully.
From that moment onwards, Alaró Castle would never again witness military conflict.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, already in decline, the Castle adopted a different role: it served as a refuge for protecting sacred and valuable objects from the town of Sóller during attacks by Barbary pirates.
At the beginning of the tenth century, specifically between the years 902 and 903, a brief account by the Andalusi geographer Al-Zuhri states that the Christian inhabitants of the Balearic Islands resisted the Muslim conquest led by Isam al-Jawlani here for almost nine years. Eventually, deprived of supplies, they most likely negotiated their surrender.
The conquest of Mallorca by James I in 1229 is far better documented. Both Christian and Muslim sources reveal that the island’s castles were the final Andalusi strongholds and did not surrender until 1231, when the rest of the territory had already been conquered. James I himself, in the Book of Deeds, described Alaró Castle as a fortress almost impossible to assault.
Perhaps the best-known military episode is that of Cabrit and Bassa in 1285, which we will discuss later upon reaching the hermitage.
In 1343, however, a negotiated surrender did take place. That year, Peter IV of Aragon conquered the Kingdom of Mallorca, ruled by James III. Unlike other places, such as Pollença Castle, most Mallorcan fortresses surrendered peacefully.
From that moment onwards, Alaró Castle would never again witness military conflict.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, already in decline, the Castle adopted a different role: it served as a refuge for protecting sacred and valuable objects from the town of Sóller during attacks by Barbary pirates.
The western defenses
7
Tales and legends