Alfonso X el SabioAlfonso X el Sabio

1252-12841252-1284

Early Spanish Rulers Up to Early Spanish Rulers Up to AlfonsoAlfonso

Alfonso X el Sabio (1221-Alfonso X el Sabio (1221-1284)1284)

Assumes throne in 1252 on death of his Assumes throne in 1252 on death of his father, Fernando III el Santofather, Fernando III el Santo

Reign plagued by internal struggles with Reign plagued by internal struggles with nobles and royal succession (eldest son nobles and royal succession (eldest son Fernando de la Cerda vs second eldest Fernando de la Cerda vs second eldest Sancho)Sancho)

Ambitions as Holy Roman Emperor Ambitions as Holy Roman Emperor through mother’s sidethrough mother’s side

Suffers grave illness during his life Suffers grave illness during his life (cancer)(cancer)

ContributionsContributions Continuation of School of Translators in Continuation of School of Translators in

Toledo established under King Fernando III el Toledo established under King Fernando III el SantoSanto

Innovation: Translations of Arabic and Innovation: Translations of Arabic and Hebrew works into Castilian rather than LatinHebrew works into Castilian rather than Latin

Growth and prestige of Castilian as a Growth and prestige of Castilian as a language of culture, learning and politicslanguage of culture, learning and politics

Continues repopulation and conquest of Al-Continues repopulation and conquest of Al-AndalusAndalus

Works under Alfonso’s Direction:Works under Alfonso’s Direction: An Encyclopedic Enterprise An Encyclopedic Enterprise

LegislativeLegislative Scientific (including astronomical and Scientific (including astronomical and

astrological)astrological) RecreationalRecreational Prose worksProse works Poetic (religious and secular) Poetic (religious and secular)

LegislativeLegislative

SetenarioSetenario (begun c. 1252 during reign of (begun c. 1252 during reign of Fernando III) much of it incorporated into 1Fernando III) much of it incorporated into 1stst PartidaPartida

Siete PartidasSiete Partidas (begun 1251; 1256-65) a vast (begun 1251; 1256-65) a vast law code that encompasses every aspect of law code that encompasses every aspect of society society

El espéculoEl espéculo (1255) Five books (6th and 7th (1255) Five books (6th and 7th referred to, but never compiled). Book I: law, referred to, but never compiled). Book I: law, doctrine of Trinity, articles of Christian faith; doctrine of Trinity, articles of Christian faith; Books II -III: political and military organization Books II -III: political and military organization of the kingdom; Books IV-V: Justice.of the kingdom; Books IV-V: Justice.

Siete PartidasSiete Partidas

1st1st Duties of clergy and matters of dogma. Duties of clergy and matters of dogma. Except title I, on law (what it is, who has Except title I, on law (what it is, who has power to make laws and why, etc.)power to make laws and why, etc.)

2nd2nd Emperors, kings & other lords: the rights & Emperors, kings & other lords: the rights & duties of those who govern duties of those who govern

3rd3rd Justice and its administration Justice and its administration 4th4th Matrimony, kinship, legitimate and Matrimony, kinship, legitimate and

illegitimate children, slavery and freedom, illegitimate children, slavery and freedom, etc. etc.

55thth Commercial law: loans, debts, contracts, Commercial law: loans, debts, contracts, and other forms of commerce and dealings and other forms of commerce and dealings

6th6th Wills, inheritance, guardianship of orphans Wills, inheritance, guardianship of orphans and minorsand minors

7th7th Criminal Law: crimes, punishments, etc. Criminal Law: crimes, punishments, etc. Laws governing Jews, Moors and hereticsLaws governing Jews, Moors and heretics

ScientificScientific

Translations of astronomical Translations of astronomical texts include:texts include:

Libro de las cruces Libro de las cruces (1259, 1270's) (1259, 1270's)

Libro de las Tablas Alfonsíes Libro de las Tablas Alfonsíes (1256-(1256-1277) 1277)

Scientific works: Scientific works: together around together around 23 treatises23 treatises

Libro de las Tablas AlfonsíesLibro de las Tablas Alfonsíes

Scientific Scientific (con’t)(con’t)

Libros del saber de la astrologíaLibros del saber de la astrología. . (1276-1279) 16 (1276-1279) 16 treatises that attempt to systematize the treatises that attempt to systematize the movements of the stars and constellations movements of the stars and constellations

AstrologicalAstrological: : LapidarioLapidario (1250/1279) the properties of stones (1250/1279) the properties of stones and their relation to the movement of the planetsand their relation to the movement of the planets

Magic:Magic: A version of the A version of the Liber PicatrixLiber Picatrix (1256), an 11th (1256), an 11th century Andalusian treatise on talismanic magic.century Andalusian treatise on talismanic magic.

Historical WorksHistorical WorksGeneral EstoriaGeneral Estoria

Oldest known vernacular universal Oldest known vernacular universal history. Begins at the creation up to the history. Begins at the creation up to the birth of the Virgin Marybirth of the Virgin Mary

Principle sources: the Bible, Josephus' Principle sources: the Bible, Josephus' Antiguedades judaicasAntiguedades judaicas and the and the Historia Historia ScholasticaScholastica of Peter Comestor of Peter Comestor

Secondary sources: classical writers (Ovid, Secondary sources: classical writers (Ovid, Pliny, etc.) and Arabic historiansPliny, etc.) and Arabic historians

Historical WorksHistorical Works

Estoria de EspañaEstoria de España (Primera Crónica General) (Primera Crónica General)

codices: E1 (1272) (from the first inhabitants, through the codices: E1 (1272) (from the first inhabitants, through the history of Rome to the arrival of the Arabs [under Alfonso’s history of Rome to the arrival of the Arabs [under Alfonso’s direction]) and E2 (1289) (continued under Sancho IV, up to direction]) and E2 (1289) (continued under Sancho IV, up to the reign of Fernando el Santo [1217-52])the reign of Fernando el Santo [1217-52])

Primary sources: Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada (known as Primary sources: Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada (known as El El toledanotoledano): ): De Rebus HispaniaeDe Rebus Hispaniae (or (or Historia GothicaHistoria Gothica, 1242), 1242)

Lucas de Tuy (known as Lucas de Tuy (known as El TudenseEl Tudense): ): Chronicon MundiChronicon Mundi (1236)(1236)

Other sources: Ovid, Lucan’s Other sources: Ovid, Lucan’s PharsaliaPharsalia, classical historians and , classical historians and geographers, epic poems, etc. geographers, epic poems, etc.

RecreationalRecreationalEl libro de Ajedrez, El libro de Ajedrez,

dados, e tablasdados, e tablas Codex (T-1-6) Codex (T-1-6)

Seville, 1283Seville, 1283 Three treatises on Three treatises on

games (chess, dice games (chess, dice and astronomical and astronomical tables) from Arabic tables) from Arabic textstexts

150 150 miniaturesminiatures

ProseProse

Calila e DimnaCalila e Dimna (1251/2) (1251/2)

Translation when Alfonso still a prince.Translation when Alfonso still a prince.

First major work of Arabic didactic First major work of Arabic didactic prose in the "tale within a tale" prose in the "tale within a tale" framework widely disseminated in framework widely disseminated in Spain.Spain.

Derived from Hindu Derived from Hindu PanchatantraPanchatantra

Las Cantigas de Santa MariaLas Cantigas de Santa Mariawritten in Galician Portuguesewritten in Galician Portuguese

Four codices:Four codices: MS MS ToTo Toledo (100 Toledo (100

cantigas)cantigas) MS MS T.I.1 T Escorial T.I.1 T Escorial

(200 cantigas) (200 cantigas) Códice RicoCódice Rico

MS B.I.2 MS B.I.2 EE Escorial Escorial (400 cantigas)(400 cantigas)

MS MS FF Florence (104 Florence (104 cantigas; unfinished)cantigas; unfinished)

Importance of the Importance of the CantigasCantigas

Resource for depiction of daily life, Resource for depiction of daily life, interaction among groups interaction among groups (Christians, Jews, Muslims; women)(Christians, Jews, Muslims; women)

Historical resource: some Historical resource: some cantigascantigas show King Alfonso or members of his show King Alfonso or members of his family or historical eventsfamily or historical events

Rich source for musicologists, art Rich source for musicologists, art historians and literary specialistshistorians and literary specialists

Códice RicoCódice Rico

Consists of Consists of narratives of Marian narratives of Marian miracle tales miracle tales collected from collected from Europe and SpainEurope and Spain

Musical notationsMusical notations Richly colored Richly colored

illustrationsillustrations Every tenth Every tenth cantigacantiga

is a lyric praise poemis a lyric praise poem

ProloguePrologue Alfonso as Holy Mary’s Troubador Alfonso as Holy Mary’s Troubador

Cantiga de loorCantiga de loor

Rose of roses and flower of Rose of roses and flower of flowers, flowers,

Lady of ladies, Lord of lords.Lady of ladies, Lord of lords.

Rose of beauty and fine Rose of beauty and fine appearanceappearance

And flower of happiness and And flower of happiness and pleasure, pleasure,

lady of most merciful lady of most merciful bearing, bearing,

And Lord for relieving all And Lord for relieving all woes and cares; woes and cares;

   Rose of roses and flower    Rose of roses and flower of flowers, of flowers,

Lady of ladies, Lord of lords.Lady of ladies, Lord of lords.

Cantiga 42 (Cantiga 42 (Códice RicoCódice Rico) )

How they were renovating a church and placed the image of Holy Mary under the portal

How young men played ball in a meadow

CantigaCantiga 42 Panels 3 & 4 42 Panels 3 & 4

How the image of Holy Mary curled its finger around the ring which the young man had given her in token of

love"

How the youth married the other

woman and left Holy Mary

CantigaCantiga 42 Panels 5 & 6 42 Panels 5 & 6

How Holy Mary made the groom get up from beside the bride and leave her

How the groom went into a hermitage and lived a pious life

MS B.I.2 MS B.I.2 EE Escorial Escorial

http://www4.gvsu.edu/wrightd/cantigas.htm

Codice Codice FF (Florence) (Florence)

Cantigas de Escarnio y de mal Cantigas de Escarnio y de mal dezirdezir

Poetic texts of a satirical naturePoetic texts of a satirical nature

Example: "O qui foi passar a Example: "O qui foi passar a serra" serra" In 1264 the Moorish King of Granada In 1264 the Moorish King of Granada raised a rebellion, but in 1265 Alfonso raised a rebellion, but in 1265 Alfonso forced him to sign a truce at Vega. forced him to sign a truce at Vega. This This cantiga de escarniocantiga de escarnio (satire) is (satire) is directed against Spanish traitors who directed against Spanish traitors who joined the Moors. joined the Moors.

O qui foi passar a serraO qui foi passar a serra He who passed over the mountainsHe who passed over the mountains

And did not want to serve on the plain--And did not want to serve on the plain--Is he the one, when war was returned, Is he the one, when war was returned,       Who's now bragging?       Who's now bragging? Since he vacillates so much now, Since he vacillates so much now,       Let him be damned!       Let him be damned!

He who doled out his moneyHe who doled out his moneyWithout attracting any good knights--Without attracting any good knights--Is it because he wasn't first in the fight Is it because he wasn't first in the fight       That he's bragging now?       That he's bragging now? Since he came at us with his rear, Since he came at us with his rear,       Let him be damned!       Let him be damned!

O qui foi passar a serraO qui foi passar a serra (cont’d)(cont’d)

He who raised a great soldieryHe who raised a great soldieryBut never quite a good cavalry, But never quite a good cavalry, Since he didn't go to Granada, is heSince he didn't go to Granada, is he      The one who's bragging?       The one who's bragging? Whether he's rich or has a strong band, Whether he's rich or has a strong band,       Let him be damned!       Let him be damned!

He who loaded up his bagsHe who loaded up his bagsWith a little gold and a lot of guff, With a little gold and a lot of guff, And never quite entered the town of Vega, And never quite entered the town of Vega,       Is he bragging now?       Is he bragging now? Since he's more like fat than butter, Since he's more like fat than butter,       Let him be damned!       Let him be damned!

From: J.Wilhelm, ed. From: J.Wilhelm, ed. Lyrics of the Middle Ages, An Anthology. NY: Garland, Lyrics of the Middle Ages, An Anthology. NY: Garland, 1990, 243-44.)1990, 243-44.)

Cultural Role of the Iberian Cultural Role of the Iberian PeninsulaPeninsula

Map from: http://faculty.washington.edu/petersen/alfonso/alfonsox.htmMap from: http://faculty.washington.edu/petersen/alfonso/alfonsox.htm

Statue of Alfonso X, Biblioteca Nacional,

Madrid