 Born at Balaguer to Peter II of Urgell and Margaret Palaiologue of Montferrat, he inherited the county of Urgell from his father in 1408.In Valencia on 29 June 1407, he had married Isabella, daughter of Peter IV of Aragon and sister of Martin the Humane, who appointed him lieutenant of the Kingdom of Aragon in 1408.Following the death in 1409 of Martin the Younger, heir to the Aragonese Crown, the king appointed James governor-general, an act interpreted by James as implying his heirdom.