A Private

Bed and Breakfast Experience
Casa España Natchez     About Us     The House     Contact Us     Rates     Availability     Spain in Natchez     Privacy Policy     Site Map      
Owner's Spanish Heritage      
  From Mallorca to Natchez

The island of Mallorca was made part of the Spanish province of Baleares in 1716, right around the time France was building Fort Rosalie in Natchez.  In 1779, when Spain joined France in declaring war on Great Britain during the American Revolution, Spanish forces in Louisiana were prepared and made ready for a campaign against British fortifications in West Florida by Spanish Governor Bernardo de Galvez who marched out of New Orleans at the head of a force composed of among others, regulars from the Regiment of Mallorca.

 

Located in the Mediterranean sea, Mallorca is the largest island of Spain. The capital of the island is Palma.

                               

Mallorca traces habitation to 6000 - 4000 BC.  It was occupied by the Romans in 123 BC during which time Palma, (Palmaria) was founded.  In 426, the Vandals forced the Romans out.  While under the Byzantine Empire circa 534, Mallorca was administered as part of the province of Sardinia.  In 902 the Caliphate of Cordoba conquered Mallorca. When the period of the Caliphate of Cordoba ended in 1087, Mallorca came under the rule of the Taifa of Denia and existed as an independent taifa until 1114 when Pisans and Catalans overran the island.  They were replaced by the Almoravides from North Africa who ruled until 1203.  The Almohad dynasty followed. In 1229 King James I of Aragon launched an invasion and annexed Mallorca to his Crown of Aragon.  When James I died, his two sons divided the island.  James II became king of the Kingdom of Mallorca but in 1344 Peter IV of Aragon re-incorporated it into his Crown. 

 

 

 The Ties That Bind 

 The last name Mir dates back to the beginning of the 10th century.   Count Mir was the son of the Count of Barcelona, Wifredo II.  He succeeded his father to rule over the Counties of Barcelona, Besalu, Cerdeña and Rosellon.  Of note among Count Mir's sons was Arnaldo Mir, who emerged victorious in a number of battles against the Moors.  From there emerged Berenguer de Mir, who was the grandson of Count Miron "the Elder", a relative of King James I.  Berenguer went on to conquer Valencia.  The Mirs began to extend along the lands of Catalonia and soon began to expand to nearby regions. 

 

The Mir bloodline of Casa España descends from the Catalan (Catalonian) Mirs that moved to Mallorca. Some of the Mirs from Mallorca include Reginaldo Mir, who became a high ranking member of the Church and is today buried at the Cathedral in Palma.  Juan Mir, wealthy land-owner and businessman, often lent money to King Philip IV.  In return, the King knighted him in 1631 and is today referred to as “Tio” Juan by his descendants.  In the 20th century, Miguel Mir Juan, the owner’s grandfather also became a businessman in Spain and in the Americas. The Master suite of Casa España, Don Miguel is named in honor of the owner’s father, Don Miguel Mir Vanrell, a native of Mallorca.