Revisiting Alphonsine Historiography and Legislation
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Special Session
Organizer Name
Yolanda Iglesias, David Navarro
Organizer Affiliation
Univ. of Toronto, Texas State Univ.-San Marcos
Presider Name
Peter Mahoney
Presider Affiliation
Stonehill College
Paper Title 1
New Approaches to Siete Partidas and the 1272 Revolt of the Nobles
Presenter 1 Name
Yolanda Iglesias, David Navarro
Paper Title 2
"Los Sabios Antiguos": The Sources of Alfonso X’s Las Siete Partidas
Presenter 2 Name
Matthew Orsag
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Univ. of Toronto
Paper Title 3
"Foolish Belief": The Status of Muslims and Jews under the Reign of Alfonso X
Presenter 3 Name
Sandra Fildes
Presenter 3 Affiliation
Univ. of Toronto
Start Date
14-5-2017 10:30 AM
Session Location
Schneider 1340
Description
King Alphonso the Wise (1221-1284) stands out for his major contribution in Castilian prose. His historiographic works and new law code projects made a strong impact to the self-definition and identity of his kingship and the future of Castile. Among the vast literary production compiled in the Alphonsine scriptoria, the historiographical and legislative works set the foundation for the development of an entirely new field written in romance language. The production of these texts was distinguished not only by its vernacular style but also by a concern to include sociocultural as well as political and ideological elements. Similarly to the team of interpreters who participated in the translation of scientific and astronomic works, an eclectic team of editors and compilers worked under Alphonso’s direction to produce two seminal texts which became “the foundation stone of Spanish historiography” (Burns 6);[1] Estoria de Espanna narrates the history of Spain down to his father’s reign Ferdinand III, whereas General estoria represents a far larger history of the world through antiquity to the time of Christ. In addition, legislative reforms also became an important facet of Alphonso’s agenda. His Fuero real (1255), Espéculo (1256), Setenario (circa 1265) and ultimately Siete partidas (1256-1265) were commissioned by the monarch to regulate and unify the legal jurisdiction of the Iberian Peninsula. This panel session explores from an interdisciplinary perspective the historiographical and jurisprudential contributions compiled at the Alphonsine’s scriptoriain his defense of a global concept of cultural and social traditions that encompassed both secular and religious elements as well as ideological, sociopolitical and linguistic unity.
Yolanda Iglesias
Revisiting Alphonsine Historiography and Legislation
Schneider 1340
King Alphonso the Wise (1221-1284) stands out for his major contribution in Castilian prose. His historiographic works and new law code projects made a strong impact to the self-definition and identity of his kingship and the future of Castile. Among the vast literary production compiled in the Alphonsine scriptoria, the historiographical and legislative works set the foundation for the development of an entirely new field written in romance language. The production of these texts was distinguished not only by its vernacular style but also by a concern to include sociocultural as well as political and ideological elements. Similarly to the team of interpreters who participated in the translation of scientific and astronomic works, an eclectic team of editors and compilers worked under Alphonso’s direction to produce two seminal texts which became “the foundation stone of Spanish historiography” (Burns 6);[1] Estoria de Espanna narrates the history of Spain down to his father’s reign Ferdinand III, whereas General estoria represents a far larger history of the world through antiquity to the time of Christ. In addition, legislative reforms also became an important facet of Alphonso’s agenda. His Fuero real (1255), Espéculo (1256), Setenario (circa 1265) and ultimately Siete partidas (1256-1265) were commissioned by the monarch to regulate and unify the legal jurisdiction of the Iberian Peninsula. This panel session explores from an interdisciplinary perspective the historiographical and jurisprudential contributions compiled at the Alphonsine’s scriptoriain his defense of a global concept of cultural and social traditions that encompassed both secular and religious elements as well as ideological, sociopolitical and linguistic unity.
Yolanda Iglesias