Success And Successors

The Province of Aragon began its operational life when the Order's leaders carved it away from the Province of Spain in 1301. The subject of this chapter is the birth in controversy of the Province of Aragon. The Province of Spain became the first to effect a split after the creation of the Province of Sicily. Attention was given to ridding the province of those activities that endangered friars' souls, impaired the finances of convents, and brought scandal to the Order. Competition between the nascent Iberian kingdoms and a growing sense among friars of their national identities complicated negotiations for division of the Province of Spain and, thereafter, continued to influence administration of the province. The distribution of preachers general reflects the strong position of Catalan friars in the province relative to those of other nations. Keywords:Aragon; Catalan friars; preachers; Spain