Comte Johan of Majorque 01/01/871 - 07/05/873
As the new year begun Comte Bernard invited Comte Johan and his family to spend some time in Barcelone likely to increase the growing relationship between the two houses. It would provide opportunities for Comte Johan to renew his vows of fealty as well as allowing the first introduction of the betrothed Guillaume and Sybilia though given their age it is likely either would remember.
The Comtes and their family are recorded as having attended mass at Sant Pau del Camp, a small monastery outside of Barcelone town. The monastery itself had been constructed on the site of a much older temple and despite being consecrated in the name of the Lord God still retained older architectural and material influences both Roman and Visigoth.
Comte Johan and his Liege would have discussed the ongoing wars between their King and the neighboring rulers. It is curious that despite Roi Louis II being engaged in three separate wars there are no records of any of his vassals adding their men to that of the King. The wars themselves were small affairs and likely could easily be ended had but a few of the Lords of Aquitaine interceded.
Given that the attention of Roi Lothaire V was tin the north a number of small armies could siege his border counties and grind out at least a white peace. Perhaps the fact that the war was against a whole Kingdom halted interaction?
The war with Aragoi could be ended with a single decisive encounter, as the now fully reinforced Aquitainian army had a significant numerical advantage over the aggressor. Fragments of correspondence from the hand of Roi Louis II suggests all men of Aquitaine had been instructed to have no involvement with the war for fear of drawing the ire of Aragoi’s Muslim overlords.
Then there was the recent war with Duc Ramnulf II of Poitou, a pointless war from an Aquitainian perspective. Any land lost would become part of Aquitaine of which Roi Louis II was heir, any lives lost in the conflict would be senseless on the basis the lands would be reclaimed following succession.
A point to note is that Comte Bernard may have also had less than altruistic reasons for inviting Comte Johan to his court. Having united the Balearic Islands and brought prosperity to Majorque, and now Minorque, the prestige of House de Maiorica continued to rise. Comte Johan was now considered one of the more powerful men within the Kingdom and this would have caused no small amount of concern for his liege. While the visit publicly appeared extremely amiable sterner words may well have been spoken in private.
- The most powerful men in Aquitaine at the beginning of 871
In total Comte Johan remained in Barcelona for two weeks before sailing back to his lands.
Shortly after his return from Barcelone Comte Johan fell ill, it began with a mild headache and a general malaise which led to more serious symptoms. His dedication could not be questioned as his continued to deal with all matters of administration, receiving petitions and serving justice. As the days lengthened into weeks his eyes darkened, his skin paled and he took to sleeping during meetings. In April 871 while arbitrating between two disgruntled neighbours he collapsed and was carried home.
Concerned for their Lord and aware there were no men of significant learning nor medicine on the island, the common folk approached Senechal Ponc and presented him with a collection comprised of donations from across all of the islands humbly asking that it be used to entice a man of healing to return Comte Johan to health.
- Comte Johan fell ill prompting a mass collection across the islands for the purposes of hiring a physician
Rule on the Isles continued under the watchful eye of the Menorcan council as for the time being Comte Johan remained secluded, confined to his bed chamber his wife tending to his body and Chaplain Folc tending to his soul.
In June of 871 there were two new arrivals to the Isles, First was Shlomo Valenciennes an Ananite, or a follower of Karaite Judaism. He arrived offering his services to the Comte and his family as a physician having previously been working as an assistant in the courts of Europe. He gave an honest appraisal of his experience and seemed a genuine and agreeable man and so was wholeheartedly welcomed to the court of Majorque.
- Shlomo Valenciennes arrives on Majorque 20 April 871 in answer to calls for a physician
The second arrival was the third child of the Comte and Comtesse, a daughter was born on 23 April 871 and named Teresa. Much like her older sister Sybilia, Teresa was a stout and stocky child who would fight, victoriously, against her swaddling and cry with the depth and ferocity of a Viking raider.
Following her birth she was taken by Shlomo to the chamber of her father where he lay, still frail and pained. The Comte fearful that the child be infected or harmed refused entry and so viewed her but briefly as she was held in his doorway. He would not hold his daughter for the first time until three months later when he was satisfied his health had returned.
The likely cause of the Comte’s illness was pneumonia which left him all but incapacitated between the months of April and July 871. Medical knowledge at the time being limited it seems that it was the strong de Maiorica constitution that pulled him through, the treatments he is believed to have received having little efficacy.
- Despite limited medical treatments Comte Johan successfully recovered from a bout of pneumonia
The mentality of Comte Johan seems to have changed slightly following his convalescence. Perhaps borne out of a desire to make more of a mark on the World, or to secure and protect his growing family Comte Johan made the decision to enter into the war against Lotharingen which had been rattling on since 867.
In September 871 an army of 1039 was raised from across the Islands and boarded a mismatched fleet of 14 boats and headed northeast to the southern counties of Lotharingen. The war itself seemed at an impasse though the advantage was with Roi Louis II, it was the hope of Comte Johan that by harassing the coastal counties a victory of some sort could be obtained.
On 4 October 871 the army reached the shores of Provence and descended on Aix Castle, the fleet once fully unloaded withdrew to nearby Nimes where it anchored and awaited word that the county had been taken. Morale amongst the besiegers was high, confident as they were being led by Radulfo and Mayor Renard.
Comte Johan had elected to remain on Majorque rather than accompany the army to the mainland. His people held him in such high regards there was no talk of cowardice and even were he not still slightly weakened by his earlier illness, the islanders would be happy with him remaining behind.
The town of Alcudia, on which construction had started in 870, was completed on 17 December 871. The Christian concerns over Alcudia’s Arabic links were again an issue following the official establishment ceremony. On Comte Johan’s orders a plaza had been constructed in the centre of the town though its central tile had not been laid. As part of the ceremony Comte Johan addressed the people speaking of God, the future, duty and family before unwrapping a glorious tile gifted to him by Wali Sa’id of Nakur. While the citizens of Alcuida gasped at the tiles beauty as it was set in place, the clergy gasped for far less approving reasons.
- A replica of the tile set at the centre of the plaza of Alcudia
Bar the disapproving whisper of the clerics at court, the next few months passed uneventfully on Majorque.
The Poitevin-Aquitainian war for Bordeaux looked to be all but over when their similarly matched armies met in battle at Perigord on 1 April 872. 2219 Aquitainian men fought a 2440 strong Poitevin army and lost, losing 833 men and killing a mere 430. As the Aquitainians routed the Poitevins marched on the capital of Aquitain, Ventadour, where Roi Louis II was secluded.
As the forces of Roi Louis II were defeated the men of Majorque were victorious when on 22 April 872 the castle of Aix fell and the flag of Majorque was raised above it’s battlements.
Fortune continued to shine on the House de Maiorica when in May 872 Comtesse Agnes announced her fourth pregnancy.
On the 13th of July the unthinkable happened and Roi Louis II castle of Comborn in Ventadour was taken by the Poitevin army. The Roi however managed to escape much to the annoyance of Duc Ramnulf II meaning that what initially looked to be complete victory would not be decided just yet.
On 12 July 872 the Bishopric of Frejus fell to the jubilant Menorcan army, this was followed in October with the fall of Toulon.
- Frejus falls to Majorque
- Toulon falls to Majorque
The future of house De Maiorica was sealed on 13 December 872 when a second son was born, Guifre. Comte Johan is recorded to have joked that Guifre should instead be named Uerenguel Minor with his older brother renamed Urenguel Major to signify their future inheritances, unsurprisingly Comtess Agnes declined though with much mirth.
Majorque’s contribution to the war against Lotharingen ended on 31 January 873 when the Bishopric of Digne fell. The men had been light in their looting throughout the campaign and packed up what little spoils they had won and awaited the arrival of the fleet from Nimes. They then set a course for home and families they had not seen in almost two years.
- Digne falls to Majorque and the county of Provence is fully held
Roi Louis II conceded defeat in the Poitevin war and signed terms in May 873, though he was himself still in hiding. Duc Ramnulf relinquished control of Ventadour and headed back to his Duchy of Poitou now holding two thirds of the Duchy of Aquitaine, discussion was rife as to whether he would press for Agen and seize the Duchy as a whole. Should Roi Louis II inherit his father’s Kingdom, Duc Ramnulf would be a powerful vassal indeed.
- The Kingdom of Aquitaine before losing Bordeaux (L) and after with Bordeaux outlined (R)
