Martin of Aragon

Aragonese Royal Arms with the Crest of the Chivalry of Saint George

Martin of Aragon (1356 – 31 May 1410), also known as Martin the Humane, was a king of the Crown of Aragon, a medieval composite monarchy that included the kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica, and the Principality of Catalonia. He was the son of Peter IV of Aragon and his third wife, Eleanor of Sicily.

Early Life

Martin was born in 1356, in the Kingdom of Aragon. He was the second son of his father's marriage, making his path to the throne not straightforward. Martin's early life was marked by the complex political and military landscape of medieval Spain, including the ongoing conflicts with the Kingdom of Castile and the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, as well as internal disputes within the Crown of Aragon itself.

Reign

Martin ascended to the throne of the Crown of Aragon in 1396, following the death of his brother, John I, who died without male issue. His reign was characterized by efforts to maintain the stability and integrity of his realms, facing challenges such as the Sicilian insurrection and the Interregnum in the Kingdom of Sicily, where he also claimed the throne through his wife, Maria of Sicily.

Martin's governance was notable for his diplomatic skills, particularly in dealing with the Papacy and other European monarchs. He was involved in the Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism, supporting efforts to restore unity to the Catholic Church. His reign saw the continuation of the Reconquista, the campaign to reclaim Iberian territories controlled by Muslims.

Marriage and Issue

Martin married Maria of Sicily, who brought him closer to the affairs of Italy and the Mediterranean. They had one son, Martin the Younger, who would go on to become King of Sicily. However, the lack of a surviving male heir to the Crown of Aragon itself would eventually lead to the Compromise of Caspe, a significant event in Aragonese and Catalan history.

Death and Legacy

Martin of Aragon died in 1410, under somewhat mysterious circumstances. His death without a direct male heir led to the Compromise of Caspe in 1412, a peaceful resolution to the succession crisis that established Ferdinand of Antequera, from the Castilian branch of the House of Trastámara, as his successor. This event marked a turning point in the history of the Crown of Aragon, leading to closer ties with Castile and eventually to the unification of Spain under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.

Martin's legacy is complex; he is remembered for his diplomatic and administrative skills, as well as for the cultural and intellectual advancements during his reign. However, his death also heralded the end of the direct line of the Aragonese branch of the House of Barcelona, which had ruled the Crown of Aragon for centuries.

See Also

• Crown of Aragon
• Compromise of Caspe
• Reconquista
• Western Schism