A somber tale echoes around the Joanot Colom Statue. It is a tale of revolt and repression. Here we stand before a monument to a man who dared to challenge the established order. The Joanot Colom Statue stands as a reminder of Mallorca’s turbulent past.
Joanot Colom was no nobleman. He was a humble hatmaker from Felanich. He lived in Palma de Mallorca with his family. His home was near the church of San Nicolás.
The early 16th century was a time of great economic hardship for Mallorca. The Kingdom of Mallorca was deep in debt. This burden fell heavily on the rural peasantry and Palma’s working class. The guilds oversaw this working class. News of the revolt in Valencia stirred unrest. Conspiracies brewed in the air.
In 1521, Viceroy Miquel de Gurrea arrested Joanot Colom and Joan Crespí. He accused them of plotting against the Crown. This sparked an insurrection. Guild craftsmen seized Almudaina castle. They forced Gurrea to free the prisoners. La Germania had begun.
The civilian oligarchy fled to Alcúdia. Peasants flocked to La Germania. The viceroy escaped to Ibiza. A new council arose. It was called Consell dels Tretze. Joan Crespí established it. It sought fair taxation. The nobles refused to pay.
Violence erupted. The mob stormed Bellver castle. They killed the nobles taking refuge there. They failed to take Santueri castle.
Joanot Colom deposed Joan Crespí. He took control of La Germania. Crespí was imprisoned and murdered. Colom aimed to eliminate the nobles. They were mostly refugees in Alcúdia.
The siege of Alcúdia failed. The nobles organized a counterattack. Royal troops landed. Negotiations failed. The royal assault began. Pollença was attacked. Women and children were burned alive in a church.
Fear gripped the island. Settlements surrendered quickly. Hundreds of rebels were hanged. Palma became the final refuge. The siege began in December.
The city capitulated in March 1523. Viceroy Gurrea unleashed oppression. Many were dismembered. Their bodies were displayed in the streets. Joanot Colom suffered the most famous execution. His head was displayed on the Porta Pintada for centuries.
The Joanot Colom Statue reminds us of this tragic revolt. It marks the spot of Colom’s defiance. It stands as a symbol of Mallorcan history. It is a reminder of the price of rebellion.