Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
date to these times. As Spain's fortunes also declined from the 17th century, Mallorca
slid into provincial obscurity. Backing the Habsburgs in the War of the Spanish Succes-
sion (1703-15) didn't endear Mallorca to the finally victorious Bourbon monarch, Felipe
V, who in 1716 abolished all the island's privileges and autonomy.
Catalan painter Santiago Rusiñol's
Mallorca, L'Illa de la Calma
(Mallorca, the Island of
Calm; 1922) is one of the most beautiful descriptions written of the island. In the topic he
takes a critical look at the rough rural life of many Mallorquins.
Pirate attacks forced Mallorca to be on its guard throughout much of the 18th century
until the island received permission to retaliate without punishment in 1785. At the same
time, Mallorcan Franciscan friar Fray Junípero Serra was in California, founding mis-
sions (now major cities) such as San Francisco and San Diego.
The Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century had repercussions for Mallorca -
waves of Catalan refugees flooded the island, provoking economic and social unrest. The
second half of the century saw the rise of the bourgeoisie, an increase in agricultural
activity and, in 1875, the opening of the first railway between Palma and Inca.
THE EVANGELISING CATALAN SHAKESPEARE
Born in Ciutat (ie Palma) de Mallorca, Ramon Llull (1232-1316), the mystic, theolo-
gian and all-round Renaissance man before his time, started off on a worldly tra-
jectory. After entering Jaume I's court as a page, Ramon was elevated to major-do-
mo of Jaume II, the future king of Mallorca. Ramon lived it up, writing love ditties
and enjoying (apparently) a wild sex life.
Then, in 1267, he saw five visions of Christ crucified and everything changed. His
next years were consumed with profound theological, moral and linguistic training
(in Arabic and Hebrew). He founded a monastery (with Jaume II's backing) at
Miramar for the teaching of theology and Eastern languages to future evangelists.
His burning desire was the conversion of Jews and Muslims and he began to travel
throughout Europe, the Near East and North Africa to preach. At the same time he
wrote countless tracts in Catalan and Arabic and is considered the father of
Catalan as a literary language. In 1295 he joined the Franciscans and in 1307 risked
the ire of Muslims by preaching outside North African mosques. Some say he was
lynched in Tunisia by an angry mob while others affirm he died while en route to his
native Mallorca in 1316. He is buried in the Basílica de Sant Francesc in Palma. His
beatification was confirmed by Pope John Paul II and the long, uncertain process of
canonisation began in 2007.
