Anselm Turmeda
Encyclopedia
Anselm Turmeda or Abd-Allah at-Tarjuman
(1355–1423) was a Majorcan writer born in Palma in 1355 and died in Tunis
in 1423. Early in his life he was a Franciscan friar
, but converted later to Islam
from Christianity
and lived in Tunis. He is one of few writers who have written in Arabic and a European language, Catalan
, being a classic and proficient in both languages. He became a vizier in Tunis and died there in 1423.
Turmeda dates it to April, 1398, eleven years after his settlement in Tunis. It consists of 428 poems arranged in three rhyming stanzas followed by a ryhime-free one. Its preface says it was "composed in Tunis by monk Anselm Turmeda, also called Abdalà". The work was very popular in Catalonia
until the last century where it was read in schools and as a primary reader, being called franselm (from "fra [i.e. friar] Anselm").
Written in 1417 in Catalan, no part survived in its original language. Current Catalan editions are available based on a medieval French translation. The Inquisition
of Madrid which put it in the Index of prohibited books in 1583 contributed to its disappearance. Both for political and religious reasons, it did not square with the orthodoxy of Catholic Spain in the 16th century. It presents a dispute among a donkey and a friar, arguing about the supremacy of men over animals, each one defending their genre. Finally, men win because Christ was incarnated in a man. The work is, however, very critical towards mankind, in all the aspects: religious, moral, political, etc.
This book wants to instruct in an amusing way.
The best known of his Arabic books, its a polemical work criticizing the Bible
and affirming the prophethood of Muhammad
.
It had three editions in Arabic, three in Turkish, and one in Persian in a century (1873 to 1971). (Epalza)
(1355–1423) was a Majorcan writer born in Palma in 1355 and died in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
in 1423. Early in his life he was a Franciscan friar
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, but converted later to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
from Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and lived in Tunis. He is one of few writers who have written in Arabic and a European language, Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, being a classic and proficient in both languages. He became a vizier in Tunis and died there in 1423.
His works
- Llibre dels bons amonestaments
Turmeda dates it to April, 1398, eleven years after his settlement in Tunis. It consists of 428 poems arranged in three rhyming stanzas followed by a ryhime-free one. Its preface says it was "composed in Tunis by monk Anselm Turmeda, also called Abdalà". The work was very popular in Catalonia
Principality of Catalonia
The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....
until the last century where it was read in schools and as a primary reader, being called franselm (from "fra [i.e. friar] Anselm").
- La disputa de l'ase
Written in 1417 in Catalan, no part survived in its original language. Current Catalan editions are available based on a medieval French translation. The Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
of Madrid which put it in the Index of prohibited books in 1583 contributed to its disappearance. Both for political and religious reasons, it did not square with the orthodoxy of Catholic Spain in the 16th century. It presents a dispute among a donkey and a friar, arguing about the supremacy of men over animals, each one defending their genre. Finally, men win because Christ was incarnated in a man. The work is, however, very critical towards mankind, in all the aspects: religious, moral, political, etc.
- Llibre de tres
This book wants to instruct in an amusing way.
- Tuhfat al-Arib fi al-Radd 'ala ahl al-Salib (1420)
The best known of his Arabic books, its a polemical work criticizing the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and affirming the prophethood of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
.
It had three editions in Arabic, three in Turkish, and one in Persian in a century (1873 to 1971). (Epalza)
External links
- Page about Anselm Turmeda by the AELC, Association of Writers in Catalan Language. Page in Catalan, English and Spanish.
- Anselme Tourmède, Pourquoi j'ai embrassé l'islam, Éditions de la Merci, Perpignan, France, 2009. http://www.lamerci.fr/