The Four Chronicles: A Journey Through Medieval Catalonia
The Four Chronicles of Medieval Catalonia
A Look into the 13th and 14th Centuries
The Four Chronicles were written in the late 13th and during the 14th centuries. These chronicles, penned by James I, Bernard Desclot, Ramon Muntaner, and Peter the Ceremonious, aimed to document historical events with educational value. They represent a high point of European medieval historiography. The works of James I and Peter the Ceremonious are unique as the only biographies of medieval kings written by the monarchs themselves.
A key characteristic of these chronicles is the authors’ firsthand experience of many of the events they describe. A heroic and patriotic sentiment also pervades the narratives. The four chronicles are:
- The Chronicle of James I, or Book of Deeds
- The Chronicle of Bernard Desclot, or Book of King Peter and His Ancestors Past. Desclot, an official of the royal court, focuses on historical events from the reign of James I onward, without including personal details.
- The Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner, written between 1325 and 1328. This is the longest chronicle in Catalan literature and centers on the reign of James II the Just (1291-1327), drawing upon earlier periods, songs of achievement, and previous accounts. Muntaner, a soldier, diplomat, and confidant of the kings of the House of Barcelona, participated in the Catalan Company of the East. His work is didactic, imbued with patriotic and religious fervor, and unwavering loyalty to the House of Barcelona. The direct style, incorporating popular sayings and expressions, suggests it was intended to be read aloud.
- The Chronicle of Peter the Ceremonious. Commissioned by Peter IV, but written by secretaries of the Foreign Ministry, this chronicle recounts significant events of his reign. It aimed to strengthen the monarchy, enhance royal prestige, and justify Peter’s actions as king. The monarch’s interventions are evident, revealing his memories, aspirations, and reflections.
Literary Figures of the Era
Cerverí de Girona
Cerverí de Girona’s poetry reflects the medieval reality of marriages based on expediency rather than love. His troubadour’s advice to leave one’s husband for a lover should be understood within this context. He imitates the style of traditional and popular poetry, employing the formal structure of songs sung by travelers. However, he applies this structure to a theme rooted in troubadour tradition: advising a woman whose husband refuses her to remain faithful to her lover. The influence of courtly love is evident, particularly in the defense of adultery, given the loveless nature of many marriages.
Ramon Llull (1232-1316)
Born in Majorca after its conquest by James I, Llull dedicated himself to converting unbelievers through writing, preaching, and founding monasteries to train missionaries. He studied philosophy, theology, science, Latin, and Arabic. He began writing at the age of 40 or later, and even created his own language.
- The Book of Evast and Blaquerna (often called Blanquerna), written in Montpellier in 1283, is an influential idealistic novel depicting medieval life. The protagonist seeks God through a life journey that leads him to become a monk, abbot, bishop, and pope, finally achieving spiritual perfection as a hermit.
- Felix or the Book of Wonders, written in Paris between 1287 and 1289, is a doctrinal work combining narrative and dialogue between teacher and pupil. Felix, the protagonist, explores the world, examining the gap between the divine order of creation and human behavior. Hermits and philosophers represent the various branches of 13th-century knowledge.
- Book of the Lover and the Beloved (from Blanquerna) comprises 350 religious aphorisms with poetic language, expressing the mystical experience of the Lover (the Christian soul) towards the Beloved (God). Llull’s personal style blends elements from various traditions, including the Song of Songs, Occitan poetry, and Islamic Sufism. It is one of his most widely circulated works.
The Rise of Romance Languages in Poetry
The 18th century witnessed the first appearance of poetry in a Romance language, specifically Occitan, the language of the troubadours. Troubadour lyric, originating in the feudal courts of Occitania in the first half of the 12th century, gained prestige among the aristocracy and spread to nearby courts, notably in northern Italy and Catalonia.