Guillem de Copons
Encyclopedia
Guillem de Copons was a writer and diplomat, possibly of Valencian
origin, that made some translations into Catalan
from some important ancient Greece
, ancient Rome
and the European
Middle Ages
literary works.
He was a stableman of the kings Peter IV
and John I
. They entrusted him some literary tasks. He had some relationship with the Hospitallers Great Master Juan Fernández de Heredia
. In 1383 he brought John I on the duke of Berry's behalf a French version of saint Augustine's De Civitate Dei, and he was sent again by the king to visit this duke in order to get a copy of the manuscript that he had of the French version of Titus Livius' Ab urbe condita. The Catalan translations that were then made from these French versions have been attributed to him. In 1396 the queen Violant de Bar sent him as ambassador to the papal court in Avignon
and to some French noblemen, in order to find out something about the invasion menaces of Catalonia
by the count of Armagnac. But it was in vain, since king John I died. In 1418 he dedicated the Valencian sponsor Pere d'Artés his Catalan version of Brunetto Latini
's Treasure, written in French, that included Aristotle
's Ethics. It was the first Catalan version, although not direct, from this classical writer.
Valencian people
The Valencians are an ethnic group or nationality whose homeland is the Valencian Community, which is a historical region in eastern Spain. The official languages of Valencia are Catalan , and Spanish ....
origin, that made some translations into 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...
from some important ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
, ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and the European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
literary works.
He was a stableman of the kings Peter IV
Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
and John I
John I of Aragon
John I , called by posterity the Hunter or the Lover of Elegance , but the Abandoned in his lifetime, was the King of...
. They entrusted him some literary tasks. He had some relationship with the Hospitallers Great Master Juan Fernández de Heredia
Juan Fernández de Heredia
Juan Fernández de Heredia was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 24 September 1377 to his death. His tenure was occupied by the "affair of Achaea." He was also a great patron of the translation and composition of historiographical works in the Aragonese language and a counsellor to...
. In 1383 he brought John I on the duke of Berry's behalf a French version of saint Augustine's De Civitate Dei, and he was sent again by the king to visit this duke in order to get a copy of the manuscript that he had of the French version of Titus Livius' Ab urbe condita. The Catalan translations that were then made from these French versions have been attributed to him. In 1396 the queen Violant de Bar sent him as ambassador to the papal court in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and to some French noblemen, in order to find out something about the invasion menaces of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
by the count of Armagnac. But it was in vain, since king John I died. In 1418 he dedicated the Valencian sponsor Pere d'Artés his Catalan version of Brunetto Latini
Brunetto Latini
Brunetto Latini was an Italian philosopher, scholar and statesman.-Life:...
's Treasure, written in French, that included Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Ethics. It was the first Catalan version, although not direct, from this classical writer.