: He emphasizes that the Crown originated in 1137 with the betrothal of Queen Petronila of Aragon and Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona . While the dynasty was shared, the "Crown" took its name and primary status from the Kingdom of Aragon . 2. A Mediterranean Empire
Unlike the more centralized Crown of Castile, Aragon operated on a "pactist" system.
At its zenith in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Crown was a true thalassocracy (maritime empire).
For centuries, the was one of the most formidable political entities in Europe. Spanning from the rugged Pyrenees to the far reaches of the Mediterranean, it was a "composite monarchy"—a unique club of kingdoms sharing one ruler but maintaining their own laws and identities.
Corral argues that the Crown of Aragon has been a victim of systematic distortion over the last two centuries. His primary goal is to place this union of kingdoms and counties back in its exact historical context.
: This expansion was often fueled by the legendary Almogavars , elite mercenaries whose military prowess established Aragonese influence across the Mediterranean.
: Corral critiques terms like "Catalano-Aragonese Crown" or "Confederación Altoaragonesa," arguing these were never used historically and are modern inventions.