Spanish Literature in the 15th Century: Key Authors & Trends
Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita
His work represents a departure from the purely religious focus, embracing earthly love and the joy of living. He employed humor and satire, challenging dogmatism. He wrote part of his poem while imprisoned for allegedly violating church laws by having a concubine.
Book of Good Love
The earliest surviving manuscript dates from 1330. Its structure includes a prologue, autobiographical elements (with Don Melon as a mask), exemplary narratives, satires, moral reflections, and various poems. Key sources include Ovid’s Ars Amandi and Pamphilus de amore. The author’s intention is ambiguous. Pidal refers to it as a “farewell to the formulaic humorous didactic *mester*.” The protagonist’s amorous failures reinforce the didactic purpose, warning women against the false intentions of men and the elderly.
Evolving Society
- The feudal world begins to change.
- Royalty cedes power to the nobility (the ruling class).
- The Church loses social power.
- Intellectualism emerges, and artists gain influence.
- Nobles establish patronage relationships with poets and minstrels.
- Aragon and Castile unite, culminating in the Reconquest of Granada (1492).
The Troubadour: Cultured and Popular Influence
Troubadours brought prestige to the “Gay Science” (Alegre Ciencia). In 1393, a poetry academy was founded in Barcelona, organizing poetry competitions called Floral Games. These contests featured pre-written poems and improvisation, showcasing a blend of cultured and popular styles. Poets incorporated popular refrains and carols into their compositions.
Cult and Popular Poets of the 15th Century
These poets favored proverbs and sayings in their work. They came from diverse social classes:
- Kings (John II)
- Nobles (Marqués de Santillana)
- Intellectuals (Juan de Mena)
- Religious figures (Iñigo de Mendoza)
- Beggars (Alvarez de Villasandino)
Minstrel vs. Poet
The term “minstrel” began to fall into disuse, replaced by “poet,” reflecting aspirations for publication. This resulted in a literary hybrid, blending popular and cultured elements, street and palace styles, creating a proud and humorous tone. This syncretic heritage became a hallmark of Spanish literature for centuries.
What Were Songbooks?
Songbooks were anthologies collecting works from poets and singers of various backgrounds and styles. Castilian and Galician-Portuguese *cancioneril* poetry were particularly prominent.
Themes: Love
Courtly love, originating in Provence, became fashionable in Spain during the 15th century. This poetry depicted the lover’s service to the lady, emphasizing politeness (courtliness), aristocratic supremacy, a religion of love (the beloved as sacred), and adultery (contrasting passionate love with monotonous marriage).
Themes: Morality
Erudite compositions, often allegorical, focused on death, a prevalent theme in the Middle Ages. This reflected the Church’s efforts to instill a belief in a just God who judges all (as in the Dance of Death). The Cancionero de Baena is a well-known example, featuring death delivering lectures to inspire fear.
Themes: Satire
The unstable social situation of the 15th century led to satirical works criticizing opposing factions, including the nobility and even the Church (risking the Inquisition’s attention).
Themes: Religion
Religious works included praise and supplications to the Virgin and saints, often with a didactic purpose.
What are Romances?
Romances are believed to derive from fragments of epic poems that remained in popular memory. They consist of eight-syllable verses with assonant rhyme in pairs, representing a genuinely Spanish genre.
Two Types of Romances
- Old Ballads: Primitive ballads created and recited by minstrels, developing in the 15th century. They have an epic-lyric quality, covering themes such as:
- Border conflicts
- Historical events
- Carolingian legends
- Arthurian legends (Britons)
- New Ballads: Once established, the genre expanded to include new themes like pastoral, religious, and mythological subjects. It was widely cultivated by Golden Age authors. Themes were similar to the old ballads but incorporated contemporary events. (e.g., *Romance of the Loss of Alhama/Granada*).