A Castle And The Legend Of Fog

The mediaeval period of European civilisation lasted for over a thousand years. Its beginning is clearer than its conclusion. The fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century was a political occurrence that left its mark on much of the continent and so began the Early Middle Ages. This was the start of mediaevalism. The end, however, did rather depend upon local events, which in Spain is generally considered to have been 1492, the year of Columbus's first voyage and discovery and the fall of Arabic-occupied Granada, the last act of the many-centuries-long re-conquest of Spain.

It is a period divided into three eras - the Early Middle Ages until the start of the second millennium, the High Middle Ages till around the beginning of the fourteenth century and the final Late Middle Ages. For Mallorca, very little is known about the first era. The arrival of the Vandals, instrumental in the fall of the Roman Empire, in the mid-fifth century is known, as is the subsequent appearance of the eastern Byzantine Empire in the following century. But all that is really understood of the Byzantines is that they came to Mallorca. From the middle of the sixth century until the occupation by the Arabs from the early tenth century, little or nothing is known. To all intents and purposes, four hundred years of Mallorca's history doesn't exist.

In fact, this missing history is rather longer and subject to debate. Were the Vandals as destructive as has been thought, for example? The principal evidence for their invasion comes from Alcudia's Pollentia Roman settlement. It was abandoned by the local people when the Vandals came to town. Or so it is commonly maintained. However, there is now contradictory evidence that it wasn't completely abandoned, just as there is also evidence - from excavations at the site - of possible Byzantine influence earlier than has normally been understood. But whatever really happened in those years of the Early Middle Ages is likely to remain a mystery: Majorca's mediaeval period was one of Arabs and of Catalans, their starting dates very clear - 902 and 1229.

Among the legacies that the Arabs left behind in Mallorca was regional organisation. These administrative districts included Bullansa (Alcudia, Pollensa and some of Escorca) and Yartan (in Arabic, garden), part of which was Capdepera: Cap de la Pera, the cape of stone, which was documented in the "Llibre dels fets" that chronicled the reign of Jaume I, the conqueror of Mallorca. This "book of deeds" refers to Cap de la Pera in the context of the surrender of Arabs in Menorca, which was formally given in what is now Capdepera. The name was retained, and in 1300 this village was granted official "royal" status by Jaume's successor, Jaume II, who also set about the redevelopment of the castle.

This fortification, which was to become the largest on Mallorca, straddled the Roman and Mediaeval periods. The original castle was built in the early fourth century. The Arabs were to extend it, while the Catalans undertook its massive expansion. Given Capdepera's exposed location, villagers, for their own safety and for the defence of the village, were moved inside the castle's walls. There were some sixty dwellings in all. The castle is one of the principal examples of building that occurred in the High Middle Ages.

This is a castle which can boast the stuff of legend. At a time when Mallorca and Soller are celebrating the Moorish invasion of 1561 (tomorrow's "Es Firó" in Soller), it should be noted that Capdepera very nearly had its own invasion. Or so the legend has it. The "Miracle of the Fog" doesn't have a specified date in history, but it is one tied in with the piratical Moorish incursions, such as that of Soller. Whenever it was, from the walls of the castle, invading ships could be seen. The number seemed incalculable. The village was going to be attacked and the slaughter was likely to be appalling. But, there was hope, and it came in the form of the Virgen de la Esperanza, the Virgin of Hope, if you like. The image was taken from the tower of Sa Boira, there were prayers and, remarkably enough, a great fog descended, which so disconcerted and terrified the invaders that they turned back. Capdepera was spared.

This is a legend (celebrated each year on 18 December) which dates from a post-mediaeval era, but it is one linked inextricably to the mediaeval castle, where, from Friday this week, Capdepera will be holding its annual mediaeval market, an event marked by dark forces and all the trappings of the town's mediaeval past.