The History of Mallorca

8th century
The conquer through the Moors in the year 798 AC brought a cultural blooming and prosperity to the island. In the year 902 the rich moorish businessman Al Hawlani conviced the King of Cordoba to conquer the Balearics. Al Hawani himself took the command over the fleet and after the triumph the Balearics were incorporated into the Caliphate of Cordoba. Al Hawlani was the first Govenor on Mallorca. As one of the many new things he initiated the 'Almudaina', the palace of the Govenor, was built in this time. From this moorish times originate i.e. many plants which did not exist before in Mallorca. With little interruptions the control of the Moors took around 500 years.	The Almudaina (drawing, 13th century) The 'Almudaina' today

8th century

The conquer through the Moors in the year 798 AC brought a cultural blooming and prosperity to the island. In the year 902 the rich moorish businessman Al Hawlani conviced the King of Cordoba to conquer the Balearics. Al Hawani himself took the command over the fleet and after the triumph the Balearics were incorporated into the Caliphate of Cordoba. Al Hawlani was the first Govenor on Mallorca.

As one of the many new things he initiated the 'Almudaina', the palace of the Govenor, was built in this time.

From this moorish times originate i.e. many plants which did not exist before in Mallorca.
With little interruptions the control of the Moors took around 500 years.

The Almudaina (drawing, 13th century)

The 'Almudaina' today

11th century
1015: After the collapse of the Caliphate of Cordoba, the Balearics are annexed to another small Muslim kingdom, the taifa of Denia (South Spain). But through increasing conflicts between the two kingdoms, Mallorca became a separate independant kingdom (1087-1114), known as the taifa of Mallorca. Moxabir (1093-1114), the second King of Mallorca builds the townwalls, which should protect the town against the offence of the Christians in the 13th century. Piracy increased more and more and becomes the most important source of income for the island. No ship is secure at the northcoast of Spain, the southcoast of France and the westcoast of Italy.	1114: With the help of the Pope in Rome a group of Pisa-Catalans of the earl of Barcelona manage to conquer Ibiza and Mallorca to stop the piracy. The siege of Palma lasts eight months. After the city is defeat and sacked, the invaders went home. But only one year later (1115) the catalanian and italian troops could conquer the town and freed over 30.000 christians. (Some of the stolen treasuries can be viewed today in the italian town Pisa...). During this battle the mallorcan King Burabe was captured. But through problems with the Almoravides the winner - Ramon Berenger III. - had to leave the island and Mallorca fell back to the Almoravides.

11th century

1015: After the collapse of the Caliphate of Cordoba, the Balearics are annexed to another small Muslim kingdom, the taifa of Denia (South Spain).
But through increasing conflicts between the two kingdoms, Mallorca became a separate independant kingdom (1087-1114), known as the taifa of Mallorca.

Moxabir (1093-1114), the second King of Mallorca builds the townwalls, which should protect the town against the offence of the Christians in the 13th century.
Piracy increased more and more and becomes the most important source of income for the island. No ship is secure at the northcoast of Spain, the southcoast of France and the westcoast of Italy.

1114: With the help of the Pope in Rome a group of Pisa-Catalans of the earl of Barcelona manage to conquer Ibiza and Mallorca to stop the piracy.
The siege of Palma lasts eight months. After the city is defeat and sacked, the invaders went home.
But only one year later (1115) the catalanian and italian troops could conquer the town and freed over 30.000 christians. (Some of the stolen treasuries can be viewed today in the italian town Pisa...).
During this battle the mallorcan King Burabe was captured.
But through problems with the Almoravides the winner - Ramon Berenger III. - had to leave the island and Mallorca fell back to the Almoravides.

1116
1115-1203: The Almorávides, a Muslim tribe from North Africa, arrive to help the Mallorcan Muslims during the siege of Palma and stay on to occupy the island.	The Balearics experience a period of prosperity. The Almorávides dominion extends beyond the islands to Tunesia and Tripolitania.

1203
1203-1229: The Balearics fall into the hands of Almohadian tribes from Algeria and Denia. Political instability allows the reconquest of Mallorca by the Catalans and a re-integration of the Balearics to the moorish kingdom. The last moorish govenor who lived in the Almudaina palace was Abu Yahya. During his period Palma got i.e. three mosques.	One of these mosques stands in the place where the cathedral was built later. Santa Eulalia and the church of Sant Miquel. At this time Palma had around 4.000 houses, 50 bakeries, 50 shops, 180 gardens and 2 cemeteries...
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