The town of Capdepera in Majorca

Capdepera is also the capital of a common small area (about 55 km²), but has an extensive coastline of 30 km in length. This very rugged coastline has cliffs and coves shallow - the sandy beaches and crystal clear waters - home to the resorts very popular with tourists: Cala Mesquida, Cala Ratjada, Cala Gat, Son Moll, Sa Pedruscada, Es carregador, Font de Sa Cala and Canyamel.

Capdepera is a historic town, founded in 1300 as a fortified village. This history remains the main attraction of the city, the castle of Capdepera overlooking the city on the north side.

The first written document in which the place name of "Cap de La Pera" (Capdepera village) appears is the chronicle of King Jaume I, the "Llibre dels Feyts" (Book of Facts), specifically in the column that describes the surrender of the Moors from Menorca to Capdepera.

The inhabitants of Capdepera are called  in Majorcan language Gabellin, and the woman, Gabellina. This name is probably related to the activity of important smuggling in the region of Capdepera the salt tax was a tax on salt and other goods (tobacco, coffee and so on).

The boundary to the north with the municipality of Artà begins on the coast between the coves of Cala Mesquida and Cala Torta, then passes to the west by the crest of a rocky part of the Serres de Llevant, culminating 386 meters Puig des Racó.

In the south, the boundary with the municipality of Son Servera through the crest of the Serra de Son Jordi, which culminates at 316 m of Puig de Son Jordi.

The town of Capdepera is roughly in the center of the municipality, 3 km from the coast.

Capdepera is the terminus of the Ma-15 main road that crosses the island of Mallorca through Manacor and Artà. Capdepera is distant 80 km from Palma de Majorca, 27 km from Manacor, and only 8.5 km from Artà.

Go to Castle of Capdepera.

Go to the Tower of Canyamel.

Es Carregador is one of the coves that festoon the coast of Capdepera and from which opens the bay of Cala Ratjada. Here we still use the old "Escars" small buildings where fishermen store their tools. Cala Moltó, N’Aladern, caleta de Sa Pedruscada and Cova dels Alberdans are some other charming coves that dot these waters.

The two largest and most famous of the municipal area of white sandy beaches are those of Cala Agulla and Cala Mesquida. The first is located just fifteen minutes walk from the center of Cala Ratjada and the second 8 kilometers away.

In addition to these two beautiful beaches, those Canyamel, Font de Sa Cala, Cala Gat and Son Moll also offer vast expanses of sand to take full advantage of the sun, the sea and various beach sports.

Among the cliffs, stand those of Lighthouse of Capdepera, but also those of Cap Vermell, so named for their reddish color.

• From Capdepera to the domain of S’Heretat.
• De Sa Font de Sa Cala in Coma de Sa Tortuga through a protected natural area.
• From Capdepera to the Talaia de Son Jaumell.
• From the port to Torre Esbucada, route along the harbor of Cala Ratjada to the Lighthouse of Capdepera.
• Visit the wetland of the Torrent de Canyamel and the Caves of S’Ermita.

"That day, at sunset, we reached the Cape of Pera, which is within sight of Menorca. We called all of our people and their ordered lighting fires in more than 300 locations in the bush here and there to give the impression that a whole army encamped there. And when the Saracens saw this, they sent two senior check with our messengers, and they told them that it was the army of King James, who was preparing to invade Minorca. "

The delegation to go to Menorca to parley was formed Master of the Knights Templar of Majorca, Fray Ramón de Serra, Knight Berenguer de Santa Eugenia and Don Pere Maça, Lord of Sangarrén.

Campfires, which could be seen from Menorca were repeated for several nights, from 12 to 17 June 1231, until the Moors accepted to sign a treaty.

The treaty, known as the Treaty of Capdepera was signed June 17, 1231 in Torre d’en Miquel Nunis which was later incorporated into the castle of Capdepera. The treaty was concluded between Capdepera King Jaume I of Aragon and the Qadi of Menorca (Manūrqa), Abu Abd Allah Muhammad, it allowed the Moors to maintain their dominance in Menorca subject to recognize the sovereignty of the Crown of Aragon to pay an annual tribute in kind and help raise once a year, the colors of the Kingdom of Aragon in the castle of Medina Manūrqa (Ciutadella).

Among the signatories were Muslim Abu Said Uthman ibn Hakam al-Qurashi who overthrew Abu Abd Allah Muhammad by a coup in 1234. He ruled until his death in Menorca 1282.

After the death of Jaume I, the recipient of the tribute was Jaume II of Majorca.

The treaty was applied until the conquest of Menorca in 1287.

The Treaty of Capdepera is considered the oldest peace treaty is maintained. The original treaty is the National Library of France in Paris.

Item promittimus vos et homines vestros et res eorum iuvare et deffendere bona fide toto posse contra omnes homines et facere pro vobis et pro mandato vestro pacem et guerram infra insulam nostram tamen nec recipiemus aliquem cursarium uel inimicum vestrum in terra uel mari. Item si aliquod lignum christianorem incurreret naufragium in insula minoricarum promittimus omnia bona illa colligere et servare et reddere domino suo vero uel vobis vobis nisi dominus verus inveniretur. Et si forte esset lignum sarracenorum bona illa possimus retinera et illa ponere in opere castri. Et eodem modo fiat si lignum nostrum de minoricis deveniret in aliquo loco dominacionis vestre. Item promittimus quod si captivus aliquis exiret uel fugeret de regno maioricarum et veniret ad minoricas quod rettamus illum nisi erit speciali de insula minoricarum set de alio loco non teneamur. Item omnes quintas lignorum hominum terre vestre concedimus vobis quod eas habeatis set de aliis hominibus qui non fuerint de dominacione vestra habeatis vos medietatem et nos aliam mediatatem ad opus castri. Que euinte colligantur per manum alfaqui qui est ibi modo et erit post ipsum.

Et nos Iacobus rex predictus per nos et nostros heredes et nostras homines promittimus vos omnes habitatores minoricarum et singulos defendere et salvare et omnia bona vestra in terra et mari. Et per gratiam specialem et honorem quam vobis volumus facere concedimus vobis quod nullus christianus uel ludeus possit habitaTe continue in insula minoricarum nisi esset de voluntate vestra. Et propter hoc concedimus et confirmamus pro alfaqui super vos in nostro loco venerabilem et legalem alfaqui qui modo est ibi nomine aboabdille abenixem ut sit alfaqui in tota vita sua. Et post obitum eius liceat vobis eligere alfaqui de vobis aliis quern volueritis et sint semper alfaqui et alcayd et alcadi et almoxariff de vobis. Et quando eligeritis alfaqui facialis nobis scire per vestrum nuncium et literas causa ut confirmemus ipsum. Et nos debemus mitere nuncium nostrum tunc qui accipiat iuramentum ab illo ut servet nobis omnia supradicta. Et si forte inter vos non eoncordabitis de eleccione nos possimus eligere per alcayd de unum de vobis et constituere cum consilio senium vestrorum.

Item concedimus et donamus vobis quod quandocumque aliquis uel aliqui vestrum venire volueritis in loco quolibet terre nostre causa negociandi sitis salvi et securi et franqui et liberi de pedatico et de leçda et de omni demands que possit fieri causa mercaterie. Item concedimus vobis quod quandocumque ligna sarracenorum causa negociandi venerint ad minoricas dum ibi in terra uel in portu fuerint non capiantur a nobis uel graventur nec ab hominibus nostris Sed exito de portu non teneamur inde. Item concedimus quod quilibet habitator minoricarum cum voluntate de alfaqui qui ibi fuerit possit se transfferre ad morandum ubi voluerit in terra sarracenorum uel christianorum. Et si venerit ad mayoricas quod sit de furo aliorum sarracenorum qui fuerint de illa partida in qua venerit. Item promittimus quod si eventu gencium uel inimicorum auxilium vobis fuerit necessarium quod quando vestrum nuncium habebimus succurems vobis et faciemus vobis auxilium et deffenderemus vos sicut nostros homines proprios. Et quandocumque illum nuncium vos destinare oporteruit pro sucursu exigendo et fuerit apud mayoricas quod ille qui teneat nostrum locum guidet illum et ducat illum ad nos salvum at securum. Denique promittimus quod si aliquis hominum nostrorum ceperit sarracenum habitatorem minoricarum uel in loco aliquo terra nostre de cetero fuerit captivatus redderemus illum absolutum et liberum cum omnibus rebus suis.

We promise you also defend you and your people and their property in good faith and with all our strength against every man, and to our name and order your peace and war in our island without receiving pirate nor enemy to you on land and sea If a Christian ship is a shipwreck on the island of Menorca, we promise to collect and preserve the property that would find and make its owner and even if you it can not be identified. If it is a Muslim ship, we can keep his property and use it for the work of the castle. And he goes the same for ships of Menorca in places of your domination. We also promise that if any prisoner out or flees the kingdom of Majorca and Minorca comes, we’ll make it unless he is a native of Minorca. Similarly we concede that you have the Quintas vessels belonging to men of your land, but as regards those men who do not belong to your rule, that you have half and another for us work of the castle. These Quintas are perceived through the alfaqui in office.

And we, the aforesaid king James, for us, our heirs and our men, we promise each and every one of the inhabitants of Menorca to defend and protect you and all your goods on land and at sea, and by special grace and honor we want you to do, no Christian or Jew can not reside continuously in the island of Menorca otherwise with your consent. And because of this we concede and confirm as of alfaqui with authority over to our place, the venerable and legal alfaqui currently in place named Aboabdille Abenixem to be alfaqui his life. And after his death, that you be allowed to choose from you the alfaqui you want, and the alfaqui, the Alcaid, the al-Qadi and almoxerif always be taken from you. And when you choose a alfaqui, you do know we sent a letter, so that we confirm it. We will then send you an envoy who receives his oath to observe all the above things. And if it happened that you do not accordiez you on this choice, we can choose one of you to Alcaid and establish agreement with your ex.

We grant to you and give you further when one or some of you want to come in any place of our earth to do business, you are sound, safe and free from any toll leude and any demand due to trade. We also concede that when the Saracens ships come to Menorca to trade, they are not captured by us, either on earth or in the port, or by our men, without obligation for us Once out of the harbor. We concede that every inhabitant of Menorca with the agreement of Yalfaqui duties, can be transferred to dwell where he wants to land Saracens or Christians. And if he comes in Majorca, that under the right (fuero) other Saracens, who will be in the region where he comes. Finally, we promise that if someone takes our men inhabitants of Menorca a Saracen or if any captured anywhere in our land, we will make him his freedom with all his possessions.

Signum Iacobi Dei gratia regis aragonum et regni mayoricarum, comitis Barellinone et domini Montispesulani.

Huius rei testes sunt: F. prepositus tarrachonensis; frater R. de Serra, comendator domus Templi Mayoricarum; frater R. de Pelarrava; frater Bn. de Altaripa; B. de Sancta Eugenia; B. de Foxa; Cainarius; G. R. de Pavo; Assalitus de Guai; Sancius de Orta; P. Maca; Garcia de Orta; Dompnus Ladro; Lupus Ex. de Lucia.

Signum Guilelmi Scribe qui mandato domini regis et predietorum sarracenorum liane cartam scribi fecit loco die et anno prefixis.

Signum Petri Mercerii notarii publici Maioricarum, testis. Signum Michelis Rotlandi notar publici Maoricarum testis.

Nos Poncius Dei gratis maioricensis episcopus notum facimus universes hoc presens transcriptum sive transsumptum fuisse sumptum per manum lacobi Mercerii publici Maioricarum notarii de quodam instrumento sigillato sigillo dependenti bone memorie domini lacobi Dei gratia regis aragonum et secundum morem morem et formam qui et que consuevit servari in civitate Maioricarum in transcrìbendo instrumentis de suis origenalibus et quod tanta fides consuevit adhiberi sumptis seu transcriptis sicut origenalibus suis. dum cum sint scripta et transcripta secundum dictum morem et secundum sollempnitatem per quam presens transcriptum de dicto orìgenali et quod Petrus Mercerii et Michelis Rotlandi de quibus in presenti causa fit mentìo et in ipsa subsignantur et etiam Iacobus Mercerii qui hoc transcriptum scripsit et etiam subsignavit erant et (fuerunt) notarii publici Maioricarum et officio notaris publice utebantur anno et die quibus subscripserunt et subsignaverunt, in quorum testimonium nostrum sìgillum cereum presenti carte seu transcripto duximus apendendum.

Signum Iacobi Mercerii notarii publici Maioricarum qui hoc translatum scripsit et cum originali instrumento comprobavit et clausit XVIII° kalendas marcii anno Domìni Millesimo CC° LXXX° primo eum raso et emendato in lines XIIII ubi dicitur pro et in linea XVIII ubi dicitur Minoricas.

Witnesses of this act: F. prepositus Tarragona, Brother R. Serra commander of the house of the Temple of Majorca, Brother R. of Pelarrava, Brother B. of Altaripa; B. Sancta Eugenia, B. Foxa; Cainarius, GR Pavo; Assalitus of Gudal; Sancius Orta, P. Maça, Garcia de Orta; Domnus Ladro, Lupus Ex Lucia. Signum Guillem Scriba that the order of the king and the aforesaid Saracens did write this charter at the place, day and year indicated above.

Translation Country of Islam and the Latin world. Xe-thirteenth century. Texts and documents, UMR 5648, Lyon, 2000 doc.70