Doctrina compendiosa

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The Doctrina compendiosa (General Teaching) is a literary work on political and social issues that is attributed to Francesc Eiximenis . This book was written in Catalan in Valencia between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century . The Capuchin Martí de Barcelona published it in 1929 .

Content and structure

The book takes the form of a dialogue between a group of Valencian citizens and a Franciscan . These citizens ask him various questions about social and political issues and even about morality and religion. The dialogue is divided into two parts. The first part contains twenty sections, and deals specifically with morality. The second part contains twenty other sections, and deals specifically with practical social and political issues. The book ends with a final conclusion.

Reasons against Eiximenis' authorship

Nonetheless, various works by Jaume Riera Sans and Curt Wittlin have confirmed that Eiximenis was not the author of this book.

The main reasons would be these:

  • Eiximenis never wrote a book in the form of a dialogue.
  • Six of the nine preserved manuscripts do not have an author's name.
  • The author of this work makes no references to other works by Eiximenis. This is very common in Eiximenis' works.
  • There are few quotations from the Bible , from church parents and doctors .
  • The quotations in Latin are made differently in this book than in other works by Eiximenis.

Possible writer

Curt Wittlin suggests that the author of this work could be Ramon Soler. He was a lawyer and an important citizen of Valencia. He was also a close friend of Francesc Eiximenis. Therefore this book could be a kind of reminder of the teachings of Eiximenis, as this book is much influenced by the social and political thinking of Eiximenis. Some similarities with the regiment de la cosa pública can also be noted.

In addition, Wittlin found much influence in the works of the medieval lawyer Albertanus of Brescia . This would support the theory that the author of this work was Ramon Soler, since he was also a lawyer.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Doctrina compendiosa . Barcelona. Editorial Barcino. 1929. 157. (Catalan)
  2. ^ "Francesc Eiximenis no és l'autor de la Doctrina Compendiosa". Quaderns de Filologia de la Universitat de València . 1984 (1). 289-92. (Catalan)
  3. ↑ Introduction for Doctrina Compendiosa . Valencia. Ed. Denes. 2006. pp. 7-36. (Catalan)
  4. ↑ Introduction for Doctrina Compendiosa . Valencia. Ed. Denes. 2006. pp. 15-27. (Catalan)