: Corral critiques terms like "Catalano-Aragonese Crown" or "Confederación Altoaragonesa," arguing these were never used historically and are modern inventions.
For centuries, the was one of the most formidable political entities in Europe. Spanning from the rugged Pyrenees to the far reaches of the Mediterranean, it was a "composite monarchy"—a unique club of kingdoms sharing one ruler but maintaining their own laws and identities. La Corona de Aragon-holaebook.pdf
: This expansion was often fueled by the legendary Almogavars , elite mercenaries whose military prowess established Aragonese influence across the Mediterranean. : Corral critiques terms like "Catalano-Aragonese Crown" or
: It controlled eastern Iberia, the Balearic Islands, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Southern Italy, and even parts of Greece for a short period. : This expansion was often fueled by the
Unlike the more centralized Crown of Castile, Aragon operated on a "pactist" system.
: He emphasizes that the Crown originated in 1137 with the betrothal of Queen Petronila of Aragon and Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona . While the dynasty was shared, the "Crown" took its name and primary status from the Kingdom of Aragon . 2. A Mediterranean Empire