James I of Aragon

James I the Conqueror (2 February 1208 – 27 July 1276) succeeded his father Peter II as King of Aragon in 1213. After Peter fell at Muret, Simon de Montfort held the young king until Pope Innocent III demanded his release in 1214, and he was then raised by the Knights Templar at Monzón.

Taking power in 1227, he led the Crown of Aragon southwards: he conquered Majorca in 1229, then captured Valencia in 1238 after a five-year campaign.

With the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258, Louis IX of France gave up all claims over the Catalan counties. He sponsored Catalan letters and dictated the chronicle of his reign, the Llibre dels fets.