Biography of King John I of Aragon 1350-1396

Chronicle of St Denis Book 17 Chapter 2. [19th May 1396]. Indeed, trustworthy men reported the fate of the king, that, while he was riding through the countryside, it happened by chance that those accompanying his retinue found a hare lying in the woods, which was being pursued by the cries of all. However, the king [King John I of Aragon (age 45)], in order to chase the hare, began to urge his horse toward that direction; but as he pressed hard on the course and hastened without thinking, the horse was driven headlong, and falling to the ground, threw the king down headfirst and mortally wounded him. At this event, all who were riding and those who were following, terrified by the harshness of the incident, turned back, and the courtiers attempted to offer help to the fallen one. But before he could be carried to the nearer village, he expired in their hands. And because the lord patriarch had not yet left the kingdom, he was recalled by the [his wife] queen of Aragon (age 31), performed the royal funeral rites, and delivered the royal body to ecclesiastical burial. Thus, with matters duly completed, the messengers returning to the king of France around the middle of October reported the responses of the kings, asserting that, because the king of Aragon had died without an heir, a great war was already arising between the [his brother] Duke of Montblanc (age 39) and another for the dignity of the sceptre to be obtained¹.

Referebant equidem fide digni casum regis, quod, cum per patriam equitaret, accidit casu, ut qui preibant ejus comittatum, leporem in silvis jacentem reperierunt, quem fugientem persequutus est clamor universorum. Rex autem, ut leporem insectaretur, equum ad illas cepit urgere partes; sed cum cursui vehementer instaret, et inconsulte festinaret, equus in preceps agitur, corruensque in terram regem dedit precipitem et letaliter vulneratum. Ad hunc casum universus, qui preibat et qui sequebatur, facti acerbitate perterritus conversus est comitatus, et aulici jacenti opem ferre conati sunt. Sed antequam ad villam viciniorem deferretur, inter manus eorum expiravit. Et quia dominus patriarcha nundum regnum exierat, a regina Arragonie revocatus, regias persolvit exequias, et corpus regium tradidit ecclesiastice sepulture. Sic rebus rite peractis, nuncii ad regem Francie circa medium octobris redeuntes, responsiones regum retulerunt, asserentes quod, quia rex Arragonie sine herede obierat, jam inter ducem Montis Albi et alterum guerra oriebatur maxima pro dignitate sceptrigera obtinenda.

Note 1. John I, having died on May 19, 1596, Matthew, Count of Foix, his son-in-law, claimed the succession to the throne of Aragon; but the States awarded it to the infant, Duke of Montblanc and brother of the late king, who was then in Sicily.