At the beginning of the 9th century there was already a native count recognized by Charlemagne; thus emerged the County of Aragon which for a time came within the orbit of the Kingdom of Pamplona, but became emancipated from it, as a Kingdom, in the 11th century.

The history of the kingdom of Aragon reached its culmination in the reign of Alfonso I (1101-1134), but his will gave rise to serious political conflicts which were not completely solved until the Aragonese kingdom was united with the County of Barcelona. From that time on, the history of Aragon is above all the common history of Catalans and Aragonese, for although each people kept their language, laws and institutions, the major undertakings were the result of a common effort.

Following the union of the crowns of Aragon and Castile, the common interests which linked the various states of the Crown of Aragon gradually dispersed, although there was no real union with Castile.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the Kingdom acted in unity for the last time. Aragon, like Catalonia, Valencia and Mallorca, supported Archduke Charles against Philip V.

After the battle of Almansa (1707), Philip V abolished the Aragonese charters, adopted a series of centralizing measures and all the old political arrangements of the kingdom were wiped out. Aragon became in practice a province and its Coincil was absorbed into the Council of Castile.