The Probert Encyclopaedia of Places of the World

BALEARIC ISLANDS

The Balearic Islands are a group of five islands, south-east of Spain, including Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. The popular derivation of the ancient name Baleares has reference to the repute of the inhabitants for their skill in slinging, in which they distinguished themselves both in the army of Hannibal and under the Romans, by whom the islands were annexed in 123 BC. After being taken by the Vandals, under Genseric, and in the eighth century by the Moors, they were taken by James I, King of Arragon, 1220-1234, and constituted a kingdom, which in 1375 was united to Spain.
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