Philip of Majorca

Philip of Majorca (Catalan: Felip; 1288–1343) was an infante and a Franciscan who served as regent of the Kingdom of Majorca between 1324 and 1329. Both as a theologian and as regent, Philip was a noted supporter of the Beguines and Spiritual Franciscans, preaching poverty for all clerics. He spent a large part of his career unsuccessfully trying to establish a new Franciscan-based religious order.

Philip's seal as treasurer of Tours

Early life

Philip was the youngest of the four sons of King James II of Majorca and Esclaramunda of Foix. He was born into the exceptionally devout Roman Catholic House of Barcelona: his grandfather King James I resigned his crowns to become a Cistercian monk, his eldest brother James renounced his succession rights and joined the Franciscan order, and his sister Sancha's desire to enter a religious order prompted her to seek a dissolution of her marriage to King Robert of Naples.[1][2]

Career

While studying in Paris, Philip decided to join the Dominican Order.[2] Soon, however, he realized that his desire for austerity[2] and sympathy for the Beguines[1] made him better suited to the Franciscan Third Order.[1][2] Like his father, Philip was amiable towards Spiritual Franciscans. Specifically, he supported their campaign to impose poverty on all clerics, regardless of status, even after Pope John XXII denounced them as heretics in 1316.[2] Following his studies, Philip became treasurer of Tours Cathedral, and later held certain canonries.[3] He refused the offer of the Archbishopric of Tarragona, which his kinsman King James II of Aragon wanted for his son John.[2][3]

Philip developed a great admiration for the fellow Franciscan Angelo da Clareno, who in turn became an admirer of Philip. The infante believed that the rules of the order should be practiced as strictly as possible, and surrounded himself with like-minded clergy and laity. Thanks to Philip, Majorca became a haven to the Beguine Spirituals persecuted as heretics in the south of France. He was, however, unable to provide them long-term protection, and they eventually came to feel betrayed by him, even identifying him as the Antichrist.[1] Encouraged by Angelo da Clareno in the summers of 1316 and 1317, Philip began musing about founding a new religious order based on the rule of Saint Francis.[3] He requested repeatedly and resolutely, but ultimately unsuccessfully, that Pope John XXII formally recognize the "Brothers of the Poor Life" – the group led by him and his friend.[1][4] The Pope attempted to appease Philip[3] and bring him under papal control[2] by offering him the newly-created Bishopric of Mirepoix;[3] Philip refused this see too.[1][3]

Regency

When King Sancho, Philip's elder brother, died in 1324, the crown of Majorca passed to the underage King James III, the son of Philip and Sancho's deceased brother Ferdinand. The succession was disputed, however, by James II of Aragon, who claimed that a clause in their grandfather's will stipulated that the crown of Majorca would pass to the king of Aragon should the king of Majorca have no sons. Denying this, Sancho had provided for a regency council, consisting of three citizens of Majorca, to rule in his nephew's name. The council soon found itself sharing authority with Philip, who lacked experience in politics and intrigue. Nevertheless, within a year of his nephew's contested accession, Philip managed to persuade the King of Aragon to drop his pretensions, receiving the renunciation signed and sealed. At the same time, he brokered a betrothal between the ten-year-old King of Majorca and the King of Aragon's five-year-old daughter Constance.[5]

During his rule, Philip granted concessions to the kingdom's Jewish population.[6] He resisted the Inquisition's pursuit of Spirituals, and strove to shield Jews from growing fanaticism.[2] The regency was not particularly successful altogether, however. Philip's lack of strength and "monkish virtues" put him at odds with the small state's communes and feudatories.[3] The young king also grew to heartily resent his uncle, who assigned the guardianship over the boy to his favourite Adhémar de Mosset. Upon taking the reins of government into his own hands in 1329, the not-so-pious James III had his former guardian tried for heresy.[3]

Last years

No longer involved in state affairs, Philip left Majorca and moved to the Neapolitan court of his sister and brother-in-law, where he spent the rest of his life. Soon after arriving to Naples, he renounced all his benefices.[4] Encouraged by the subtle hostility of King Robert's court towards the papacy, Philip openly attacked Pope John XII in a sermon, asserting that, papal decrees notwithstanding, the existence of the "Brothers of the poor Life" was the realization of the Gospel.[4] He attempted to establish the order once more, but Pope Benedict XII confirmed his predecessor's decision.[1]

References

1. Burr, David (2010). Spiritual Franciscans: From Protest to Persecution in the Century After Saint Francis. Penn State Press. pp. 250, 252. ISBN 0271041382.
2. Sarfaty, David E. (2010). Columbus Re-Discovered. Dorrance Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 1434997502.
3. Langworthy Douie, Decima (1932). The Nature and the Effect of the Heresy of the Fraticelli. Manchester University Press. p. 62.
4. Nimmo, Duncan (1987). Reform and Division in the Medieval Franciscan Order: From Saint Francis to the Foundation of the Capuchins. Capuchin Historical Institute. p. 361.
5. Colas, Jean Louis (1967). The Balearics, Islands of Enchantment. Rand McNally. pp. 45.
6. Abulafia, David (2002). A Mediterranean Emporium: The Catalan Kingdom of Majorca. Cambridge State Press. pp. 89–90. ISBN 0521894050.