Catalan Historiography and Literature: A Journey Through Time
Historiography
Origins of Catalan Historiography
Catalan historiography originated under the influence of the Ripoll monastery and the Oliva monastery, a significant center of European culture that blended Visigothic and Greco-Arabic influences.
Four Major Chronicles
Although Catalan songs of heroic deeds have not been preserved, traces of epic poetry techniques can be found in Catalan chronicles, even if they are not in verse form (prosifications).
1. Chronicle or Book of Deeds of James I
This chronicle, written between 1240 and 1274, is preserved in manuscripts from around 1343 and 1380. Written in the first person by James I, it includes letters and accounts from trusted individuals who wrote under his supervision.
Content: It contains elements of prosified epic songs, but the core focuses on significant events in the monarch’s life from his birth in 1207 to his death in 1276.
There are moments of confession where James I reveals personal reactions to seemingly inconsequential events, like the anecdote of the lark’s nest near his tent, which he ordered not to be removed until the larks had migrated. The facts are generally truthful, though sometimes obscured in unfavorable situations. For example, the Treaty of Corbeil, where James I relinquished his rights over Catalan and Occitan territories, is presented in a way that minimizes his concessions.
The chronicle is divided into four parts: The Battle of Muret, his marriage and internal conflicts in Aragon, the conquest of Majorca and Valencia, and disagreements with Alfonso X regarding the conquest of Murcia and Catalan wars.
Language and Style: The chronicle features a personal and heroic tone, with graphic depictions of war scenes. It incorporates elements of Roman epics and other historical accounts. The narrative is fast-paced, picturesque, and entertaining, though not always entirely accurate.
Dialogues and popular expressions, along with personal confessions, bring the events to life.
2. Bernard Desclot’s Chronicle
This chronicle begins with the marriage of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronila of Aragon. The central focus is the reign of Peter the Great, highlighting his role as comptroller of the kings of the Crown of Aragon in Italy, the French invasion of Catalonia, and the king’s efforts to liberate the territory.
Language and Style: Desclot utilizes official documentation extensively, demonstrating skillful composition and employing vigorous, stark, supple, precise, and clear prose. He reveals characters through their words and reactions, imbuing them with depth and humanity, particularly Peter the Great. The language is rich and adaptable, shifting between a formal register and a more informal, storytelling style.
3. Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner
Ramon Muntaner was a fighter, traveler, politician, and soldier born in Peralada (1265) to a wealthy family. At 20, he joined the almogavers after an arson attack ruined his family. He participated in the conquest of Menorca under Roger de Lauria and the siege of Messina in 1301. In 1302, he joined Roger de Flor in Constantinople and campaigned in Thrace for seven years before pacifying Greece, where he served as governor. He married in 1311 and settled in Xirivella in 1315, where he wrote his chronicle. He died in Ibiza in 1336 after being summoned as an advisor to James II.
This chronicle is written in a conversational and flexible style, directly addressing the audience with phrases like “And what do you say?”
4. Chronicle of Peter of Aragon
Peter of Aragon, born in 1309 and crowned in 1336, died in 1387. His reign marked the peak of the Crown of Aragon’s expansion, with the reunification of Majorca and Sicily. He fostered a vibrant arts movement and was a skilled organizer, establishing the royal archive and a team of copyists and translators, paving the way for humanism in the Crown of Aragon.
Passionate about history, he used it to educate princes and nobility against distorted views of reality. His chronicle, written in a serious and formal style, aimed to achieve two goals: enhance the monarchy’s prestige among the bourgeoisie and the people, and justify his actions as king.
Religious Prose of the 12th and 14th Centuries
During the Middle Ages, the Church’s political and economic power grew, leading to reform proposals criticizing its wealth accumulation. The Church weakened in the 14th century, exacerbated by the Western Schism, which divided Christendom with two popes. The Crown of Aragon faced a demographic crisis due to plagues (primarily the Black Death), poor harvests, and ongoing wars in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Mediterranean. Religious beliefs intertwined with superstitions and curses, further weakening the Church.
Ramon Llull
Born in Majorca, Ramon Llull enjoyed a comfortable court life. After a religious experience at 30, he embarked on pilgrimages to Galicia and France. Returning to Majorca, he studied for nine years in seclusion. He wrote in Catalan, Latin, Arabic, and Occitan.
Works:
- Poetry: Desconhort, Cant de Ramon, A Virgin Mary
- Prose: Blanquerna (a novel containing two religious works: Book of the Lover and the Beloved, Book of Contemplation), Felix or the Book of Marvels (also known as The Book of Beasts), Book of the Order of Chivalry
Other Major Authors
- Francesc Eiximenis: Lo Crestià , The Book of Women (defending Christianity)
- Vincent Ferrer: Sermons (a renowned preacher throughout Europe, always in Catalan, converting Muslims and Jews)
- Anselm Turmeda: The Disputation, Book of Good Admonishments (a Franciscan who converted to Islam)
- Isabel de Villena: Vita Christi (a nun who advocated for early, albeit mild, feminism)
Humanism
The 12th and 14th centuries witnessed a crisis of values that heralded new attitudes toward the world, leading to humanism, an ideological current that permeated the Renaissance. Human reason superseded divine right, shifting from theocentrism to anthropocentrism. Greco-Roman culture exerted a profound influence.
Humanism originated in Italy, driven by the burgeoning bourgeoisie and their tastes, concerns, and rationalism, facilitated by the economic power of cities.
Dolce Stil Nuovo
This poetic style emerged in Tuscany, Italy, in the late 13th century, with Dante Alighieri as its most prominent representative.
Inheriting the tradition of Provençal troubadour poetry, the “Dolce Stil Nuovo” reflected the refined and prosperous court life. It centered on courtly love and the praise of the lady (often unattainable). Stereotypical descriptions of the lady’s beauty, the spiritualization of love, and the internalization of feelings characterized this poetry. Ambiguity, mystery, and ellipsis were also prominent features. Poems could take the form of ballads or sonnets, sometimes written in prose.
Dante Alighieri
Beatrice, Dante’s muse, was the central figure in his work. His works can be divided into two categories:
- Poetic (Italian): His most famous work is Vita Nuova, a love story about his ideal woman.
- Doctrinal (Latin): His most renowned work is the Divine Comedy, an allegorical poem depicting the world according to the prevailing worldview of the time. It emphasizes the arduous journey towards achieving happiness.
Petrarch
Petrarch fell in love with Laura after a single glimpse in a church, and she became his source of inspiration. His intimate poetry expresses sadness and misfortune because Laura does not reciprocate his feelings. However, he finds solace in writing melancholic verses, primarily in Latin, except for the love poems collected in the Canzoniere.
Boccaccio
Boccaccio wrote in Italian and focused on earthly themes. His major work is the Decameron, a collection of one hundred love stories. His final work, Il Corbaccio, is a satire against a woman who mocked his love.