Gesta comitum Barcinonensium
Encyclopedia
The Gesta comitum Barcinonensium et regum Aragoniae ("Deeds of the counts of Barcelona and kings of Aragon") is a Latin
chronicle
composed in three stages by some monks of Santa Maria de Ripoll
and recounting the reigns of the Counts of Barcelona from Wifred I (878–97) to James II
(1291–1327), as late as 1299. It is the fawning history of the dynasty
known as the House of Barcelona
. In presenting the rulers of the county of Barcelona as the descendants of Charlemagne
, the monks sought to justify their independent policy with respect to the King of France
, their nominal sovereign. The Gesta is the chronological backbone.
The first composition was made between 1162 and 1184 and ended with the reign of Raymond Berengar IV
(1131–62). In the late thirteenth century it was continued through the reign of James I
(1213–76). An abridged version in Catalan
was produced sometime between 1268 and 1283. The final Latin version was edited in 1303–14 and included the reigns of Peter the Great
(1276–87), Alfonso the Generous
(1287–91), and James II. All surviving versions are late copies, today preserved in the Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó and in the Biblioteca de Catalunya. The earliest existing copy was made by Pere de Marca and published in 1688.
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
composed in three stages by some monks of Santa Maria de Ripoll
Santa Maria de Ripoll
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is a Benedictine monastery, built in the Romanesque style, located in the town of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain...
and recounting the reigns of the Counts of Barcelona from Wifred I (878–97) to James II
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
(1291–1327), as late as 1299. It is the fawning history of the dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
known as the House of Barcelona
House of Barcelona
The House of Barcelona was a medieval dynasty that ruled the County of Barcelona continuously from 878 and the Crown of Aragon from 1137 . From the male part they descend from the Bellonids, the descendants of Wifred the Hairy...
. In presenting the rulers of the county of Barcelona as the descendants of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, the monks sought to justify their independent policy with respect to the King of France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
, their nominal sovereign. The Gesta is the chronological backbone.
The first composition was made between 1162 and 1184 and ended with the reign of Raymond Berengar IV
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer IV , sometimes called the Holy, was the Count of Barcelona who effected the union between the Kingdom of Aragon and the Principality of Catalonia into the Crown of Aragon....
(1131–62). In the late thirteenth century it was continued through the reign of James I
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
(1213–76). An abridged version in 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...
was produced sometime between 1268 and 1283. The final Latin version was edited in 1303–14 and included the reigns of Peter the Great
Peter III of Aragon
Peter the Great was the King of Aragon of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona from 1276 to his death. He conquered Sicily and became its king in 1282. He was one of the greatest of medieval Aragonese monarchs.-Youth and succession:Peter was the eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife...
(1276–87), Alfonso the Generous
Alfonso III of Aragon
Alfonso III , called the Liberal or the Free , was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1285...
(1287–91), and James II. All surviving versions are late copies, today preserved in the Arxiu de la Corona d'Aragó and in the Biblioteca de Catalunya. The earliest existing copy was made by Pere de Marca and published in 1688.
Editions
- Lluís Barrau-Dihigo and Jaume Massó Torrents, edd. Gesta Comitum Barcinonensium. Cróniques Catalanes, II. Barcelona: Institut d'Estudis Catalans, 1925.
External links
- "Gesta comitum Barcinonensium et regnum Aragonum" at Històries de Catalunya
- Gesta comitum Barcinonensium (Chapter I and part of II) (with facsimiles of parchments: http://www.grailgate.com/LIBRARY/Gesta03.jpg, http://www.grailgate.com/LIBRARY/Gesta2.jpg)
- Gesta comitum Barcinonensium at Literatura catalana medieval
