THE LAST FORTRESS

Editorial technical sheet

The conquest of Ibiza 1235. The military operation

This essay offers a rigorous reconstruction, clear and accessible of the conquest of Ibiza in 1235, one of the decisive episodes in the history of the Pitiusas. From primary sources—such as Book of Acts—and a broad modern historiography, The author reconstructs the military operation that allowed the forces of Guillem de Montgrí, the count of Roussillon and the infant Pedro of Portugal take Madina Yâbisa on 8 August 1235.

The book combines historical dissemination with tactical analysis, contextualizing the campaign within the process of expansion of the Crown of Aragon after the disintegration of the Almohad empire.

Structure of the work

The work is organized in three complementary blocks:

Background and geopolitical context, where the strategic importance of the western Mediterranean is explained, the previous attempts at conquest and the decisive impact of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.

Siege warfare in the Middle Ages, with special attention to the case of Madina Mayurqa as a direct tactical precedent.

The military operation in Ibiza, that reconstructs the campaign plan, naval means, the siege of the fortress and the distribution of the loot, relying on the previous experience of the conquerors.

The book stands out for its expository clarity, its informative approach and its ability to bring the reader closer to a little-documented but fundamental episode. It is integrated into one of the Melqart Media labels, currently in the process of expansion and consolidation as a reference in Mediterranean historical essay.