Peter IV of Aragon

A Sardinian ducat (or principat), also called an Alfonsino, of Peter IV's reign. Note the four bars representing the Crown of Aragon.

Peter IV (Catalan: Pere IV d'Aragó; Aragonese; Pero IV d'Aragón; 5 September 1319 – 6 January 1387), called the Ceremonious (Catalan: El Cerimoniós; Aragonese: el Ceremonioso), was from 1336 until his death the king of Aragon, Sardinia-Corsica, and Valencia, and count of Barcelona. In 1344, he deposed James III of Majorca and made himself King of Majorca.

His reign was occupied with attempts to strengthen the crown against the Union of Aragon and other such devices of the nobility, with their near constant revolts, and with foreign wars, in Sardinia, Sicily, the Mezzogiorno, Greece, and the Balearics. His wars in Greece made him Duke of Athens and Neopatria in 1381.

Succession conflicts

Peter was born at Balaguer, the eldest son and heir of Alfons IV, then Count of Urgell, and his first wife, Teresa d'Entença. Peter was designated to inherit all of his father's title save that of Urgell, which went to his younger brother James.

Upon succeeding his father he called a corts in Zaragoza for his coronation. He crowned himself, disappointing the Archbishop of Zaragoza and thus rejecting the surrender Peter II had made to the Papacy in an otherwise traditional ceremony. According to his own later reports, this act caused him some "distress". Also while he was at Zaragoza, an embassy from Castile had met him and asked that he promise to uphold the donations of land his father had made to his stepmother Eleanor, but he refused to give a clear answer as to the legitimacy of the donations. While in Valencia, he decided on the case of his stepmother's inheritance, depriving her of income and outlawing her Castilian protector, Peter Ponce of León and Jérica. Peter was largely forced to capitulate by a new invasion from Morocco aimed at Castile and Valencia.

In 1338 he married Maria, second daughter of Philip III and Joan II of Navarre. In order not to offend France nor to support James, Peter summoned the king of Majorca to a cort at Barcelona, to which he knew he would not come, and when James or a representative of his failed to appear, Peter declared himself free from the obligations of an overlord to James. In February 1343, Peter declared James a contumacious vassal and his kingdom and lands forfeit. Though James sued for peace and Pope Clement attempted to mediate it, Peter returned to Barcelona prepared to invade Roussillon and Cerdagne.

In 1350, in response to the black plague, Peter IV ordered the mayor of Lleida to construct a new Jewish cemetery, as the existing one became overwhelmed by the number of new corpses.

Marriage and children His first marriage, on 23 July 1338 in Alagón, was to Maria (1329 – 29 April 1347), daughter of Philip III of Navarre and Joan II of Navarre. They had four children: Constance (1343 – July 1363), who married King Frederick III of Sicily. Joanna (7 November 1344 – 1385), who married Count John of Ampurias. Maria (1345/6 – 3 June 1348). Peter (born and died 28 April 1347).

His second marriage, on 15 November 1347 in Barcelona, was to Eleanor (1328 – 29 October 1348), daughter of Afonso IV of Portugal. She died one year later of the Black Death.

His third marriage, on 27 August 1349 in Valencia, was to Eleanor (1325 – 20 April 1375), daughter of Peter II of Sicily. They had four children:

John I (27 December 1350 – 19 May 1396). Martin I (1356 – 31 May 1410). Eleanor (20 February 1358 – 13 September 1382), who married John I of Castile and was the mother of Ferdinand I of Aragon. Alfonso (May or June 1362 – 1364).

His last marriage, on 11 October 1377 in Barcelona, was to Sibila (? – 4 or 24 November 1406), daughter of Bernat of Fortià and widow of Artal of Foces, who was previously his mistress. They had three children:

Alfonso (1376 – 1377). Legitimized in 1377, Count of Morella. Peter (born and died April 1379). Isabella (1380 – 1424), married Count James II of Urgell and was mother of Isabella of Urgell, Duchess of Coimbra. Through Isabella, Peter and Sibila are ancestors to Joana, Princess of Portugal, and John II of Portugal.

In popular culture

Peter IV is portrayed by the actor in the 2018 Spanish television series, Cathedral of the Sea. The aftermath of his death is dealt with in the 2022 sequel, Heirs to the Land.