House of Peñíscola
“Papa Luna”
Origin: Lords of Peñíscola, hosts of the antipope
The lords of Peñíscola administered the dramatic sea fortress where antipope Benedict XIII Papa Luna held his rival papal court from 1411 to 1423.\n\nRefusing to abdicate despite the Council of Constance, Papa Luna proclaimed from Peñíscola that he alone was the true pope. The family maintained his fortress-palace.\n\nThe strategic peninsula fortress controlled maritime routes along the Valencian coast and served as a bulwark against North African raids.