Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/197

53 11. MINORITY OF FERDINAND. important places in the south of Catalonia. Many chapter of these places Avere strongly fortified, and most of them defended with a resolution which cost the conqueror a prodigious sacrifice of time and money. John, like Philip of Macedon, made use of gold even more than arms, for the reduction of his enemies ; and, though he indulged in occasional acts of resentment, his general treatment of those who submitted was as liberal as it was politic. His competitor, Don Pedro, had brought little foreign aid to the support of his enterprise ; he had failed altogether in conciliating the attachment of his new subjects ; and, as the operations of the war had been conducted on his part in the most languid manner, the whole of the principality seemed destined soon to relapse under the do- minion of its ancient master. At this juncture the Portuguese prince fell ill of a fever, of which he died on the 29th of June, 1466. This event, which seemed likely to lead to a termination of the war, proved ultimately the cause of its pro- traction.^^ It appeared, however, to present a favorable opportunity to John for opening a negotiation with the insurgents. But, so resolute were they in main- taining their independence, that the council of Bar- celona condemned two of the principal citizens, 42 Faria y Sousa, Europa Portu- Pedro no sooner arrived in Catalo- ffuesa, torn. ii. p. 390. — Alonso de nia, than he was poisoned." (His- Palencia, MS., part. 2, cap. 60, 61. — toire Generals de Portugal, (Paris, Castillo,Cr6nica, pp. 43, 44, 46,49, 1735,) torn. iii. p. 245.) It must 50,54. — Zurita, Anales, torn. ii. fol. have been a very slow poison. 116, 124, 127, 128, 130, 137, 147. — He arrived January 21st, 1464, and M. La Cl^de states, that " Don died June 29th, 1466.