How did the feudal system established after the Aragonese conquest impact Mallorca’s social structure?

The feudal system established after the Aragonese conquest significantly reshaped Mallorca’s social structure, introducing a hierarchy that emphasized land ownership and vassalage. When King James I of Aragon captured the island in 1229, the existing Muslim governance was dismantled, and the island was reorganized under the feudal norms prevalent in the Crown of Aragon. Large tracts of land were distributed to nobles and knights who had supported the conquest, creating a ruling elite that held extensive estates. This elite exerted control over the largely agrarian population, which included former Muslim inhabitants, new Christian settlers, and a growing number of peasants and serfs.

In this system, the social fabric of Mallorca was marked by clearly defined relationships of obligation and loyalty. The nobility collected rents and labor from the peasantry, who in turn relied on their lords for protection and justice. The introduction of feudal law shifted the island’s social dynamics from the previous Islamic systems of governance to a more rigid, hierarchical structure. The Muslim population, now often reduced to a subaltern class called the Mudéjars, faced restrictions and were gradually marginalized or converted, changing the island’s demographic and cultural landscape. Meanwhile, the Christian settlers and landowners established new villages and economic practices centered on agriculture, livestock, and trade.

Overall, the feudal system entrenched social stratification and redefined Mallorca’s economy and culture for centuries. It fostered a society where landownership was key to power and identity, consolidating the dominance of a new Christian ruling class while reshaping the everyday lives of the island’s inhabitants. This legacy is still visible in Mallorca’s rural layout, historic estates, and cultural traditions, reflecting the profound impact of the Aragonese conquest and ensuing feudal order.