The Castle of Capdepera is important to the island as it was from here that the surrender of
Menorca, the island neighbouring Majorca in the
Balearic archipelago, was accomplished. King
James I of Aragon, having conquered Majorca, decided he needed his troops for the future conquest of
Valencia. He devised a ploy to deceive the Muslims residing on
Menorca and cause them to surrender. To do this, he ordered a large number of bonfires lit in Capdepera so that they were visible from the neighbouring island. This was to make the Saracen Menorcans believe that a large army had camped there and were preparing to invade Menorca. The ruse worked. So finally, at this very castle, James I signed the
Treaty of Capdepera, through which the Menorcan Muslims were allowed to remain there in submission to the
King of Aragon under tribute. The first construction of a fortress on this site was by Romans. It was later enlarged by the Moors. It was destroyed during Christian invasions but they later constructed another structure in the same location in the fourteenth century. King James II (1285–1295) having already founded the town of Capdepera in 1300 [?], ordered the population of the area, which had been scattered, to build the walled enclosure surrounding one of its watchtowers now known as Miquel Nunis. Its strategic location on a hill allowed them to view the adjacent lands and sea channel separating the two islands. The castle was occupied by military troops up to 1854 when it was abandoned. From then until 1983 it was under private ownership. At that time the owners donated it to the Capdepera Town Council. In 2000 the council organized a celebration of the 700th year since the founding of the castle. It remains open for
tourist viewing throughout the year. ==See also==