Medieval Literature and Religious Figures of the 14th Century

Anselm Turmeda: Life and Works

Most of this work was written in Tunisia, based on previous texts with a purpose such as the moralizing of his contemporaries, but with a much more modern, skeptical perspective.

• Arabic Works: The only work written in Arabic was Tuhfa, intended for the Saracens, combining autobiography with an exposure of doctrine against the Christian faith.
• Verse: He wrote two works: Book of Good Admonishments and Are You Ready? Division of the Kingdom of Majorca.
• Prose: In 1417, he wrote his best work, The Dispute of the Donkey, a controversy regarding the superiority of humans versus animals, involving theologians and Christian brothers.

The Lyrical Troubadour Tradition

The annexation of Occitania to the Crown of France (beginning in the 13th century) after the crusade against the Cathars and the control exercised by the French Inquisition marked the decline of troubadour poetry, which worsened with the crisis of feudalism.

The lyric of the troubadours became anachronistic by the early 14th century, as it was outdated in relation to the changes medieval society was experiencing. The appearance of the bourgeoisie in the cities meant that aristocratic courts were no longer the only centers of power and culture.

St. Vincent Ferrer

Born in Valencia in 1350 to a notary of Girona, he entered the Dominican convent at seventeen and was ordained a priest in 1378. He completed his formation in Lleida, Barcelona, and Toulouse. He taught theology at the Cathedral of Valencia and served as a confessor to several members of the royal family.

• Preaching Ministry: He had complete freedom of action and movement thanks to a special license granted by the Pope. He preached almost every day, sometimes two or three times daily, accompanied by a company of priests and penitents.
• Oratory Style: His aim was never literary, as he did not write his sermons. He mastered the art of oratory, with interventions lasting between 3 and 6 hours, using an extensive repertoire of theatrical resources.
• Sermon Structure: His sermons followed the vicentina structure proposed by the medieval ars praedicandi: starting with the enunciation of the Latin sermon, followed by the introduction, the theme, and an exhibition divided into points with examples, fables, and parables.

Anselm Turmeda: Biography

Born in Majorca in the 14th century, he entered the Franciscan order. He studied in Lleida and Bologna, where he lived for 10 years. It appears he became interested in other religions and eventually moved to Tunis, where he converted to Islam and earned several awards and positions. He married the daughter of a high dignitary and had children.