The Mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, held a working meeting with the director of the Archive of the Kingdom of Mallorca, Maria Carme Coll Font, in Calvià. The meeting took place during the presentation of the new edition of the Rei en Jaume Regatta, an event that connects Salou and Mallorca.
The research focused on documentation related to Salou, King James I, and Mallorca, with particular attention to the 1229 expedition. The Archive's director highlighted a document dated October 12, 1241, which she studied for her doctoral thesis on the Llibre Manual of Pere Romeu.
This document, a power of attorney granted by Maria, daughter of Joan de Valls, to her husband, Guerau de Riells, allowed the sale of properties located "in termino de Salou", within the territory of Salou, under the dominion of the Archbishopric and the See of Tarragona. The document was drafted within the scope of notarial activity in Mallorca.
The reference to the "term of Salou" is significant, as it indicates that by the mid-13th century, Salou was already documented as a specific and recognizable territory with its own properties and rights. This finding is even more relevant as it is dated only twelve years after King James I's expedition to Mallorca, which set sail from the port of Salou on September 5, 1229.
Mayor Granados emphasized that the Rei en Jaume Regatta "is not just a sporting competition, but also a way to keep alive a shared history between Salou and Mallorca that is over eight centuries old".
The 1229 expedition is a key episode in their shared history. The port of Salou played a strategic role in King James I's departure, establishing itself as a Mediterranean projection point for the Principality of Catalonia and the Crown of Aragon. The annual regatta keeps this connection alive.
The Salou City Council and the Archive of the Kingdom of Mallorca will continue their collaboration to locate and study documentation that highlights the historical heritage of Salou and its ties with Mallorca.
