The Tree of Europe · Person

Peter III of Aragon

«the Great»

King of Aragon whose intervention in Sicily after the Sicilian Vespers extended Aragonese influence across the Mediterranean. His reign opened a prolonged conflict with the Angevins and the papacy.

1240 – 1285King of Aragon and SicilyBarcelona · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Posthumous miniaturePeter III in Giovanni Villani’s Nuova cronica · MS Chigiano L VIII 296, f. 123rAnonymous miniaturist; text by Giovanni Villani · Fourteenth centuryVatican Apostolic LibraryPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1240 Documented

Death: 11 November 1285 Documented

Role: King of Aragon and Sicily

Dynasty: Barcelona · ES

Territories: Aragon (ES) · Trinacria (ES) · County of Barcelona (ES) · Valencia (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

King · Aragon · Reign Pending review1276–1285Effective rule

King · Trinacria · Reign Pending review1282–1285Effective rule

Count · County of Barcelona · County Pending review1276–1285Effective rule

King · Valencia · Reign Pending review1276–1285Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

James I of Aragon · ESDocumentedViolant of Hungary · ESPending review

Partners

Constance II of Sicily · ESPending review

Children

James II of Aragon · ESElizabeth of Aragon · ESViolant of Aragon and Sicily · ESAlfonso III of Aragon · ESFrederick II of Sicily · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Peter III of Aragon. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1282

Crown of Aragon4 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Aragon · ESKing · Effective rule1276–1285
- Trinacria · ESKing · Effective rule1282–1285
- County of Barcelona · ESCount · Effective rule1276–1285
- Valencia · ESKing · Effective rule1276–1285
The kingdoms and territories of the Crown retained their own institutions. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

9 recorded claims · 6 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1240
The authority record gives the birth as 1240.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Peter III., Aragonien, König · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
11 November 1285
The authority record gives the death as 1285-11-11.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Peter III., Aragonien, König · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (1/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
James I of Aragon
The authority record identifies James I of Aragon (GND 118711512) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Peter III., Aragonien, König · Relationships: father → GND 118711512
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherPending review
Violant of Hungary
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Constance II of Sicily
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (0/4 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
King · Aragon · 1276–1285
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Trinacria · 1282–1285
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Count · County of Barcelona · 1276–1285
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Valencia · 1276–1285
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (4)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

Follow this person through history

Story · Spanish original

The kingdom divided in two

Hohenstaufen, Anjou and Aragon contend for Sicily and Naples

Start reading

Keep exploring

More paths from Peter III of Aragon