The Story of Majorca and Minorca

"The Story of Majorca and Minorca" by Sir Clements R. Markham is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The work focuses on the rich history of the Balearic Islands, specifically Majorca and Minorca, detailing their conquests and governance from an Aragonese perspective. It aims to fill a gap in English-language histories of this significant Mediterranean area and offers insights into key historical figures, such as King Jayme I of Aragon. The opening of the book establishes the context of the historical narrative, beginning with the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and the subsequent rise of Aragon as a force to reclaim territories, including the Balearic Islands. The narrative dives into the motivations of King Jayme I, detailing his ambitions to conquer Majorca from the Moors. It describes his preparations for the expedition, including assembling an army and naval fleet, and highlights the geographical beauty of Majorca, which played a role in the island's allure. The passage sets the stage for the detailed exploration of the battles, political maneuvers, and the rich cultural history of the islands that follows in the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir Clements Robert Markham was an English geographer, explorer and writer. He was secretary of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) between 1863 and 1888, and later served as the Society's president for a further 12 years. In the latter capacity he was mainly responsible for organising the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901–1904, and for launching the polar career of Robert Falcon Scott.