The Crown of Aragon refers to a medieval and early modern entity that encompassed several territories in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. It was a dynastic union formed through the marriage of Petronilla of Aragon, the queen regnant of Aragon, and Ramon Berenguer IV, the count of Barcelona, in the early 12th century. The union resulted in the fusion of the kingdom of Aragon and the county of Barcelona, giving rise to the Crown of Aragon.
Throughout its history, the Crown of Aragon expanded its territories, incorporating various regions and kingdoms such as Valencia, Majorca, Sicily, Sardinia, and Naples. The empire reached its zenith during the 14th and 15th centuries under the reign of Peter IV of Aragon, popularly known as Peter the Ceremonious. During this era, the Crown of Aragon emerged as a significant maritime and military power in the Mediterranean, establishing trade routes and participating in various conflicts.
The Crown of Aragon was characterized by its complex political structure, with several territories maintaining their own legal and administrative systems while recognizing the authority of the Aragonese monarch. The union also witnessed the coexistence of different languages and cultures, including Catalan, Aragonese, Valencian, and Sicilian.
However, with the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella I of Castile in 1469, the Crown of Aragon gradually lost its independence and autonomy. The subsequent formation of the Kingdom of Spain in 1479 resulted in the consolidation of power under a single monarchy, marking the end of the Crown of Aragon as an independent political entity. Despite its dissolution, the cultural and historical influence of the Crown of Aragon persists to this day.
