Medieval Chivalry and Literature: Ramon Llull to Joanot Martorell

Ramon Llull and The Book of the Order of Chivalry

Ramon Llull, a medieval writer born in Majorca in the thirteenth century, explained the rules that the ideal knight must follow in his book, The Book of the Order of Chivalry. This work was highly successful throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, was translated into many languages, and was one of the first books printed in the UK in the late fifteenth century.

This work serves as a manual for a knight, detailing how he should be, think, and live, providing essential rules, instructions, and tips.

The Crusades: Historical Context of Chivalry

The Crusades were real campaigns of conquest seeking to regain lands from the Muslims and liberate territories where they resided (such as the Holy Land, North Africa, and Al-Andalus). The First Crusade took place between 1095 and 1099, resulting in the conquest of Jerusalem.

The Crusades significantly impacted the economy, politics, society, art, and literature of Europe.

Origin and Characteristics of Chivalric Narrative

France was the center of the cultural renewal that took place in the twelfth century. In Britain, a new literary genre appeared: the romance narrative, originally written in French. This genre was intended to promote and defend the ideals of chivalry.

Chrétien de Troyes' works were very successful throughout Europe. Prose translations and versions were written, alongside original works featuring similar arguments and characteristics. For example, the so-called books of chivalry flourished in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

In the Crown of Aragon, these narratives were well known promptly. The written works here tended to be more realistic. The most important works of chivalric literature include:

• Tirant lo Blanch (often considered the masterwork)
• Curial e Güelfa (noted for the strength of its storyline and complex characters)

Joanot Martorell: Author of Tirant lo Blanch

Joanot Martorell was probably born between 1405 and 1411 in Valencia. He was the second of seven children of a noble family of the middle nobility, and was the brother of the poet Ausiàs March. His grandmother and father were very close to the people and to King Martí the Human.

Martorell took part in the expedition of Alfonso the Magnanimous. Shortly after, his father died, leaving him as the universal heir of the property. He was then a knight.

Existing documents show that Martorell's chivalric life was heavily involved in conflicts, particularly concerning letters of challenge (formal letters sent to challenge an offended offender to a duel). He famously sent such letters to his cousin, Joan Montpalau, for having broken the promise to marry his sister.

We know that he probably also visited Portugal and Naples, where he must have resided for at least a year. It is believed that he began drafting Tirant lo Blanch after this trip, and he probably died in 1465.