Medieval Religious Monarchies and Catalan Literature

Historical Context: The Religious Monarchies

After the defeat of the Roman Empire, the Church was the only institution that maintained a stable structure of monarchies. By the 12th century, it achieved a unified network of existing fiefdoms, becoming the new point of reference.

The Western Schism and the Universities

The Western Schism occurred in 1378 with the election of two popes. In 1394, Cardinal Benedict XIII of Aragon was elected Pope. The Council of Constance resolved the conflict, deposing two popes and appointing one of concord, but Benedict XIII retired to the castle of Peniscola and did not accept this solution. The Church had become the main center of cultural promotion.

The Role of the Writer

Throughout the Middle Ages, the writer felt like a mediator between Christian doctrine and the public. Latin was still the liturgical, academic, and diplomatic language, but throughout the 14th century, Romance gained full access to the field of Catalan literature. Catalan became one of the most widely spoken languages along the coasts.

The Dynastic Change

Peter IV of Aragon was succeeded on the throne by Joan I, and then Martin I of Aragon. With Martin I, the royal family's House of Barcelona was extinguished. To elect a successor, delegates met at Caspe from Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia, and Ferdinand of Aragon became king. Martin I and Joan I of Aragon were patrons of the arts and letters.

Isabel de Villena

Isabel de Villena was born in Valencia in 1430, the daughter of the Spanish nobleman Enrique de Villena. In 1445, she professed in the Trinity Monastery of Saint Clare of Valencia, where she was appointed abbess in 1463. Her most important work is the Vita Christi, written from a female and Franciscan perspective, registered in the ordinary of the saints.

Francesc Eiximenis

Born in Girona around 1330, Francesc Eiximenis became a Franciscan and studied Theology and Philosophy. He lived in Valencia for 25 years, where he worked as a writer. He was a director of the jurors in Valencia. In 1408, Pope Benedict XIII consecrated Eiximenis as Bishop of Elna and Patriarch of Jerusalem. He died around 1409 in Perpignan.

• Language: Romance (Catalan)
• Dissemination of the work: Very wide
• Goal: To bring man to Christian doctrine
• Theme: Theology, doctrine, politics, asceticism, mysticism
• Intention: Evangelical, moralistic, and didactic
• Style: Compiler of medieval scholastic science, use of proverbs, stories, and examples, traits of orality and expression
• Language: Elegant and expressive prose with a popular character
• Target audience: New educated urban classes
• Notable works: Lo Crestià (The Christian), Llibre de les Dones (The Book of Women), Llibre dels Àngels (The Book of Angels). He had a draft of a Vita Christi in Latin but wrote it in Romance.

Saint Vincent Ferrer

Saint Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia in 1350. At the age of 17, he entered a Dominican convent in the city, where he became a priest. He taught theology at the Cathedral of Valencia and was a counselor and confessor to various members of the royal family. In 1412, he had a decisive intervention in the Compromise of Caspe to solve the succession problem. The objective of his work was never literary. As a preacher, he mastered the art of oratory. His sermons have the typical structure proposed by the medieval ars praedicandi. He also used literary resources and techniques to attract public attention.

Anselm Turmeda

Anselm Turmeda was born in Mallorca in the mid-14th century and soon joined the Franciscan order. In 1385, he abjured Christianity and went to Tunis. Most of his work was written in Tunis. The only work he wrote in Arabic, Tuhfa, was intended for Saracens and argued against the Christian faith. In Catalan, he wrote the Llibre dels bons amonestaments (Book of Good Admonitions) and verses on the division of the Kingdom of Mallorca. In 1417, he wrote his best work in prose, Disputa de l'ase (Dispute of the Donkey).