Medieval Perpignan – Kings, Sieges & Glory
The Counts Move In – 1000 AD
By the start of the 11th century, Perpignan was no longer a sleepy village. The Counts of Roussillon officially made it their residence and shifted power away from Elne and placing Perpinyà firmly at the centre of local politics.
The early town grew around the castle and church, inside a protected enclosure known as the cellera, which were a fortified core typical of Catalan medieval towns. A cluster of winding streets, workshops and stone houses began to sprawl outwards and the first real “neighbourhoods” appeared.
The Rise of the Guilds – 1100s
By the 12th century, Perpignan was buzzing with trade. Entire streets were dedicated to specific crafts: carpenters on Carrer de la Fusteria, potters on Carrer dels Ollers, goldsmiths and weavers working by candlelight.
Artisans formed powerful guilds, regulating prices, standards and apprenticeships. The town’s layout even reflected its social structure with tight alleys of craftsmen and larger courtyard homes known as coronells for wealthier merchants.
The Templars built a fortress outside the walls and a new quarter called the Safranar (the saffron field) emerged. Trade was booming, and Perpignan’s reputation was growing across the region.
Self-Government and Civic Pride – 1197 AD
In a big moment for the town, Perpignan was granted a municipal charter in 1197 by King Alfonso II of Aragon. This meant the town could elect its own consuls, raise taxes, maintain walls and administer justice even before Barcelona had these rights.
Perpignan now had its own coat of arms, its own town hall and the beginnings of an independent identity. The city’s motto became “Fidelíssima Vila”, or the Most Faithful Town, and it was proud of its new role as the capital of Roussillon.
The Kings of Majorca Arrive – 1276 AD
When King James I of Aragon died in 1276, he divided his kingdom among his sons. One son, James II, became King of the newly created Kingdom of Majorca and he chose Perpignan as his continental capital.
To show who was boss, James II built the Palace of the Kings of Majorca, perched on a hill just outside town. Finished in 1309, it combined Gothic elegance with military power with royal chapels, gardens, courtyards and a direct view over the city.
During this golden period, Perpignan flourished. It was a major political hub, a commercial centre with links to Collioure and a vibrant place full of music, markets and merchants from all over the Mediterranean.
War, Invasion and a King in the Sewer – 1285 AD
Of course, peace didn’t last. In 1285, King Peter III of Aragon invaded to seize the Kingdom of Majorca. He stormed into Perpignan during Easter week and took over the palace, imprisoning King James II in his own bedroom!
But here comes the legendary escape: James II is said to have fled through a tunnel that led from his chamber down to the edge of town, possibly an old storm drain, and escaped in disguise and vanished into Catalonia.
Plague and a Crown Lost – 1344 AD
Perpignan’s glory days under the Kings of Majorca came to an end in 1344, when King Peter IV of Aragon conquered the city and annexed the kingdom. The royal court was gone and Perpignan was back under the Crown of Aragon.
Then came disaster when the Black Death hit in 1348 killing half the city. Streets were emptied, businesses closed and the bells of Saint John’s tolled almost daily. It took decades to recover.
Still, the city’s walls were strong and its spirit even stronger and, by the late 14th century, Perpignan was once again growing with expanded fortifications, thriving markets and a population of fiercely independent Catalans.
Louis XI Comes Knocking – 1463 AD
In the mid-1400s, France started eyeing the region. In 1463, King Louis XI of France seized Perpignan as collateral for an unpaid debt. The people were furious as they saw themselves as Catalan, not French.
Perpignan resisted and citizens petitioned the King of Aragon to help, but to no avail and Perpignan was in 1474–75 when French forces blockaded the city for months and people resorted to eating rats and cats whilst disease spread.
Joan Blanca and the Fall of Perpignan – 1475 AD
In the mid-1400s, France started eyeing the region. In 1463, King Louis XI of France seized Perpignan as collateral for an unpaid debt. The people were furious as they saw themselves as Catalan, not French.
Perpignan resisted and citizens petitioned the King of Aragon to help, but to no avail and Perpignan was in 1474–75 when French forces blockaded the city for months and people resorted to eating rats and cats whilst disease spread.
Back to Spain – 1493 AD
In one final twist, the French king’s son, Charles VIII, handed Perpignan back to Spain in 1493 to keep peace before launching his own war in Italy. On this day, the citizens celebrated, church bells rang and Catalan flags flew again.