his Catalan possession on the north-east of the Pyrenees, to King Louis XI of France, who refused to part with it.

In his old age John was blinded by cataracts, but recovered his eyesight with an operation (couching) conducted by his Jewish physician, Abiathar Crescas. The Catalan revolt was pacified in 1472, but until his death in 1479 John carried on a war, in which he was