Francesc Eiximenis

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Francesc Eiximenis [ fɾənˈsɛsk əʃiˈmɛnis ] (* around 1330; † April 1409 in Perpignan ) was a Catalan Franciscan and writer in the 14th century. In medieval Aragon , he was probably one of the most widely read, copied, published and translated authors. Thus he had great influence in the literary as well as in the political area. Among his readers were well-known personalities of his time, such as the kings Peter IV , John I and Martin I and the antipope Benedict XIII, who resided in Avignon .

Life

Cover of the Regiment de la Cosa Pública (Valencia, Cristòfor Cofman, 1499). On the right Francesc Eiximenis offering his book to the Valencian Jurats .

Francesc Eiximenis was probably born in Girona in Catalonia around 1330 . When he was very young he joined the Franciscan Order , which is where his education began. He later attended the most famous universities in Europe: Oxford University and Paris University . Since the English Franciscan school was important at the time, it had a particularly strong influence on him. He was particularly dedicated to the writings of British authors, including those of Robert Grosseteste (named by Eiximenis Linconiensis because he was Bishop of Lincoln ), John of Wales , Richard Kilvington , Alexander von Hales , Richard von Mediavilla , Thomas Bradwardine , Wilhelm von Ockham and Johannes Duns Scotus . In 1371 an attempt was made to recruit Eiximenis as a teacher at the University of Lleida . However, he lacked the degree of doctor of theology , which is why he could not accept this offer. He obtained his doctorate in 1374 at the University of Toulouse with the financial help and support of King Peter IV.

Eventually Eiximenis returned to Catalonia and became a respected intellectual. He had good relations with the court of the Aragonese Crown and also with the ruling classes of Barcelona and Valencia . The majority of his works were written in Valencia, where he lived from 1382 to 1408. There he was an advisor to the Jurats (administrator of the city) and the Consell (government organ of the city). In 1391 the city and the Kingdom of Valencia suffered from many social problems. So Eiximenis organized a kind of prayer army in some monasteries near Valencia. In 1392 he and a few others were entrusted with the inspection of the Jewish books that were stolen after the Jewish pogroms of 1391.

At the end of 1397 he was a member of a commission that was supposed to advise King Martin I on the occidental schism . In 1397 and 1398 he also took part in the preparation of two crusades by the Valencians and Mallorcans together against the Moors of North Africa in order to prevent their piracy.

In 1399 Eiximenis was president of a commission trying to unite all schools in Valencia. The Consell denied it in 1400, but this attempt was likely a forerunner of the University of Valencia , which was founded in 1499. Eiximenis' last years in Valencia (1404–1408) were dedicated to the foundation of the Franciscan monastery of Sant Esperit in Gilet in the Sagunto district . This monastery was founded by Queen Maria de Luna. 1408 Eiximenis took part in the Council of Perpignan . There the Pope of Avignon, Benedict XIII, appointed him Patriarch of Jerusalem on November 13, 1408 . The Archbishop of Auch , Cardinal Jean Flandrin , donated him episcopal ordination three days later. On December 19 of the same year he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Elne . Eiximenis died in Perpignan in April 1409.

Works

The works of Eiximenis were well known at the time. This is shown by the more than 200 manuscripts of his works that have been preserved. Another example was the Psaltiri devotíssim , a translation of 100 of the 344 prayers of the Psalterium aka Laudatorium into Catalan. The incunabula edition of this book had 2000 copies, i.e. the double of the two editions of Tirant lo Blanc combined. It is therefore considered to be the highest incunabula in medieval Catalan literature .

There were many translations in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Llibre de les Dones has been translated into Spanish. One of the Spanish translations was used for the upbringing of the four daughters of the Catholic kings . The Llibre dels Àngels had an international success and was translated into Spanish , Latin , French and, as the only book of medieval Catalan literature, into Flemish . The Vida de Jesucrist has been translated into Spanish and French. The translation into French of the Llibre dels Àngels was the first book published in Geneva in 1478 . In addition, the translation into Spanish of the Vida de Jesucrist was the first book published in Granada in 1496 after the city was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs.

There are only a few modern editions of Eiximenis' works. Almost all modern editions of his works have been compiled by Curt Wittlin and Albert Hauf . The following works by Eiximenis in Catalan and Latin have been preserved to this day.

Catalan

Page by Terç del Crestià based on the 1792 manuscript of the National Library of Madrid.
After Curt Wittlin Lo Cristià . The original project consisted of 13 books, but only 4 were written:
A gift from Eiximenis for the administrators of the city of Valencia (see picture). According to Albert Hauf, strongly influenced by the Communiloquium of John of Wales . This work was also included as the third part of the Dotzè del Crestià . Although it is not long (it has only 39 sections), it represents Eiximenis' summarized political and social worldview.
A complete treatise on angelology with many political considerations.
In the beginning a textbook for the education of women; four fifths of the book deal with theology and the basis of Catholic moral teaching.
A biography of Jesus Cristus with theological considerations and also contemplative content. According to Albert Hauf, this book is influenced by the Mediationes Vitae Christi of Pseudo-Bonaventure and by the Franciscan and spiritualist Ubertino de Casale .
  • Scala Dei or Tractat de contemplació ("Staircase to God or Treatise on Contemplation", online )

Latin

Writings ascribed to Eiximenis

A little eschatological treatise . It is doubtful whether Eiximenis is actually the author of this treatise.
Shows a great influence of Eiximenis' political theories.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ GND 118978101
  2. ^ Curt Wittlin. “Era Cristià Lo Crestià de Francesc Eiximenis? Història d'un error de Paleografia ”. Caplletra , spring 48, 2010. 163-77. (in Catalan)
  3. ↑ Albert Hauf. “Eiximenis, Joan de Salisbury i Fr. Joan de Gal.les, OFM”. Miscel lània Sanchis Guarner , I. Quaderns de Filologia. Universitat de València. 1984. 167-174. (in Catalan)
  4. ↑ Albert Hauf. "La huella de Ubertino de Casale en el preerasmismo hispánico: el caso de fray Francesc Eiximenis", Actes del X Congrés Internacional de l'Associació Hispànica de Literatura Medieval (Associació Hispànica de Literatura Medieval / IIFV, Universitat d'Alacant, 16/20 de setembre de 2003). Alacant. IIFV. 2005. 93-135. (in Spanish)
personal data
SURNAME Eiximenis, Francesc
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Catalan Franciscan and writer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1330
DATE OF DEATH April 1409
Place of death Perpignan