The discursive philosophy of Peter IV of Aragon about the reinstatement of the Crown of Majorca to the Crown of Aragon

Abstract

Peter IV of Aragon, called “the Ceremonious”, wrote his chronicle under the inspiration of the case of James I of Aragon, the author of the Llibre dels feits. Nevertheless, the true leitmotiv which motivated him to do it was his act against the King of Majorca, James III, whom he deposed from the Crown of Majorca in 1342-1344, before bringing his life to an end in 1349. His drastic act forced him to justify his behavior in front of the public opinion and the European Kingdoms. In order to legitimate the deposition, in first place he subjected the Majorcan king to a judicial process under certain accusations, and after that he conceived a political discourse, whose main part was the historical account. In it, he explains the legal reasons of his proceeding, omitting all the details he wasn’t interest in explaining, at the same time that he gives big importance to the symbology, Eventually, his speech culminates by remarking the Catalan ownership of the reintegrated lands.