Catalan Literature: Key Authors and Works
The Four Great Chronicles
Background
Catalan literature reached its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries, coinciding with political unity and the rise of a distinct social and historical genre. The emergence of a unified Catalan identity led to the recording of significant national events.
Origin of the Chronicles
The four major chronicles are attributed to:
- James I (The Book of Deeds)
- Bernard Desclot (The Book of King Peter and His Predecessors)
- Ramon Muntaner (Ramon Muntaner’s Chronicle)
- Peter the Ceremonious (Royal Chronicle)
James I
Biography
Born on February 2, 1208, in Montpellier, James I reigned over Aragon, Majorca, and Barcelona. He was also Count of Urgell and Lord of Montpellier. He was the son of Peter II of Aragon. Orphaned at a young age, he began his regency under Sancho and later Ferdinand of Aragon. He ascended to the throne in 1218 and married Eleanor of Castile in 1219. He initiated the conquest of Majorca in 1229 and Valencia in 1232. He died in Alzira in 1276.
The Book of Deeds
This is an autobiographical narrative with a prologue and epilogue written by another person. The chronicle is divided into four parts:
- 1205-1228: Conflicts of the era, his father’s death, and his education (Chapters 2-33).
- 1229-1240: Conquest of Majorca and Valencia (Chapters 34-327).
- 1240-1265: Conflicts with the Moors (Chapters 328-409).
- 1265-1276: Conquest of Murcia and his death (Chapters 410-566).
Key Features: Religious devotion, love for his land, heroic military spirit, and a popular, improvised language.
Bernard Desclot
Biography
Born in the second half of the 13th century, Bernard Desclot, also known as Bernat Escrivà, began his work in 1283.
The Book of King Peter
This chronicle narrates the exploits of King Peter “The Great,” son of James I. It is divided into 168 episodes, grouped as follows:
- Episodes 1-10: Events before James I of Aragon.
- Episodes 11-73: Life of James I.
- Episodes 74-168: Reign of Peter “The Great” of Aragon.
Key Features: Objectivity, wealth of information, accurate style, and early chapters that are prose versions of epic poems. The language is precise, dramatic, rich, and well-written.
Ramon Muntaner
Biography
Born in Peralada in 1265, Ramon Muntaner witnessed James I’s stay in his home at the age of nine. In 1285, he migrated with the Almogavars and participated in the conquest of Minorca and the Sicilian War. He worked as a manager for Roger de Flor and joined the expedition to the East. In 1315, he transported an orphaned infant to Sicily. He retired in 1316 and, in 1325, a dream prompted him to start his chronicle. He died in Ibiza in 1336.
Content of Ramon Muntaner’s Chronicle
The chronicle covers the period from the birth of James I to the coronation of Alfonso III. It begins with King James I and his family. The central part focuses on James II. The chronicle concludes with the coronation of Alfonso III of Aragon, the last king who lived during Muntaner’s lifetime.
Key Features: Written to be read aloud, it uses lively, colloquial language with rhetorical questions and epic nuances.
Peter the Ceremonious
Royal Chronicle
Written by King Peter III, son of Alfonso, this chronicle was started by Peter and completed with the help of a team of collaborators.
Argument
It covers the entire reign of his father, Alfonso III, and is divided into the following chapters:
- Reign of Alfonso III.
- Peter’s accession to the throne.
- Peter’s conquest of the Kingdom of Majorca.
- Unions formed against Peter in Aragon and Valencia.
- Negotiations with Aragon and Valencia, and alliance with Valencia.
- War with King Peter of Castile.
Key Features: Written in autobiographical form, it includes personal memories of the king, intrigue, bloodshed, cruelty, and unscrupulous politics.
Ausias March
Ausias March, son of Peter March and Leonor Ripoll, was born in Gandia in 1397. In 1415, he represented the military in the Cortes of Valencia. In 1419, he participated in the conquest of Sardinia under the orders of Alfonso V. At 27, he retired from military life and began writing, becoming one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages. In 1437, he married Isabel Martorell. He died on March 3, 1459, in Valencia.
Themes
Love
March portrays women as real, individual human beings with flaws, departing from the idealized courtly love of medieval literature. His work blends intellectual and physical love.
Characteristics of Love:
- Full of Wisdom: 19 poems. A dialogue between the author and the lady, proposing a deeper physical and intellectual relationship. The woman’s response is ambiguous, and the poet feels a sense of failure but maintains an aggressive attitude.
- Lily Among Thorns: 35 poems. Directed to a woman named Teresa, love is seen as absolute contemplation, a way to achieve pure love, but she favors impure love. He acts violently.
- Love, Love: 12 poems. Addresses the lady directly, negotiating or lashing out at a personified “Love.”
- My Last Good: 2 poems. Addressed to a single woman, the poet feels old but still in love, forgetting past sorrows.
- Oh, Fool of Love: 10 poems. The poet feels guilty for writing poems about impure love and seeks forgiveness from God.
Death
Characteristics of Death:
- Cant de Mort (Song of Death): 6 poems. Dedicated to the death of his wife, Joana Escorna. He reflects on common remedies, the destiny of the soul, and the pain and remembrance of past times.
Language
Ausias March was one of the first poets to use the vernacular Catalan language.
Style
March’s poetry shows two facets:
- Cultured: Inherited from the troubadours, with a rich, elegant, and precise style, free from Provençal linguistic influence.
- Unconventional: Constant presence of everyday objects, medieval landscapes, and characters. The development of the poem often involves comparisons between an initial situation and a feared military or medical event. He uses rebukes and questions to create a connection between the author and the reader.
Jaime Roig
Jaime Roig was a prestigious physician born in Valencia. He was married to Isabel Pellicer and had children: Jerome, James, John, Eleanor, and Violante (the latter two became nuns). From 1450 to 1462, he managed the hospital of Capellans. In 1455, he authored The Manufactures of the Work of San Pedro Martir and San Nidau. His most famous work is The Book of Women or The Mirror. He died on April 4, 1478.
The Mirror
Written in verse (16,359 lines), the book reveals the author’s extensive medical knowledge. It is dated between 1459 and 1460.
Content
It begins with a consultation with John Fabia and a preface where the author states his moral intentions and claims that women are inherently bad. It is divided into four books:
- First Book: Discusses his youth and adventures after his mother throws him out of the house.
- Second Book: Discusses his love life (he married four times).
- Third Book: Solomon provides examples of the perversity of women.
- Fourth Book: The protagonist, now very old, dedicates himself to charity.
Framing the Novel
- Autobiographical Novel: Narrates the life of the main character autobiographically.
- Chivalric Novel: Narrates a pessimistic world.
- Picaresque Novel: Literary critics consider The Mirror a precedent for this genre.
- Bourgeois Novel: The author presents a realistic overview.
- Satirical Novel: Includes social accusations.
- Misogynistic Novel: A moralistic work against women.
Style and Language
Written in rhymed verse in “noves rimades” (four-syllable lines), it is divided into four books and four parts. The language is flexible and popular.