Alfonso X, the Learned: A Biography

H. Salvador Mart Nez

BRILL, 2010 - Biography & Autobiography - 589 pages

Recent publications about King Alfonso X have tended to focus on his role as monarch in the context of the institutions of the realm. This book, however, emphasizes the human dimension of this extraordinary figure. Drawing on King Alfonso s own works and on extensive archival sources, both well-known and neglected, Salvador Martínez brings to life a king who valued the possession of knowledge above all earthly riches. The Learned King" left a vast legacy of work, which would influence developments in both Spain and Europe, most significantly in the transfer of knowledge from the Arabs to the Christian West. With his intellectual curiosity and his pursuit of wisdom, Alfonso X is a towering figure at the origins of modernity."

Contents

• Introduction The Alfonsine Era: 1
• Chapter One The Apprenticeship of a Great King: 16
• Berenguela the Great: 20
• 3 Berenguela Creator of the CastileLeón Union: 29
• Fernando and Beatriz: 33
• Chapter Two A Princes Education: 45
• The Liberal Arts: 48
• a Trivio: 49
• b His Teachers: 56
• Continuity and Change: 64
• d Beyond the Artes The Goal of the Wise Man: 67
• 3 Languages: 73
• 4 The Mirrors of Princes in Alfonsos Education: 75
• 5 The Art of War: 80
• 6 New Horizons: 84
• Chapter Three Alfonso King: 88
• 2 Marriage: 94
• 3 Acclamation: 97
• 4 Pending Business: 104
• Seville 12521253: 112
• Chapter Four The Quest for the Imperial Crown: 121
• 2 The Holy RomanGermanic Empire The Idea of Europe: 129
• 3 Pisan Support: 136
• 4 Christina of Norway: 143
• Chapter Five Alfonso King of the Romans: 148
• Culture and Diplomacy: 154
• From Salé to Niebla: 159
• 4 General Uprising in the South: 164
• 5 Waiting Period in the Imperial Election New Directives in Papal Politics: 174
• 6 The 1268 Jerez Cortes: 178
• 7 Unexpected Family Complications: 179
• 8 New International Perspectives: 184
• Chapter Six Gregory X and the End of Imperial Ambitions: 189
• 2 A New Candidate: 192
• 3 The 1274 Cortes: 194
• Excavation of King Wambas Tomb: 196
• Beaucaire: 199
• 6 The Great Meeting: 203
• 7 The Return: 208
• Chapter Seven Illness and Intellectual Pursuits: 213
• 1 Illness and Literary Creation: 214
• 2 The Testimony of the Cantigas: 217
• 3 Marian Devotion and the Cantigas: 230
• 4 Illness and the Miracle: 236
• 5 Fitero in Navarra: 238
• 6 Alfonso X in the Cantiga 235: 241
• a The Illness at Ávila: 242
• b Requena: 244
• 7 Cultural Activities: 247
• Chapter Eight The Black Decade 12691279: 251
• 2 The Illness at Vitoria and Cantiga 209: 255
• 3 The Miracle at Valladolid: 265
• 4 Cantigas 279 366 and 367: 271
• 5 Alfonsos Madness and the Setenario: 277
• 6 Diagnosis: 284
• 7 Cultural Parenthesis: 291
• Chapter Nine The Nobles Rebellion: 294
• 2 Dissidence: 298
• 3 Unexpected Opposition: 304
• 4 The Promoters of the Conspiracy: 311
• 5 New Perspectives: 314
• 6 Murcian Sojourn: 317
• 7 On the Road to Castile The Showdown with the Rebels: 324
• 8 The 1272 Cortes Confrontation: 328
• Chapter Ten Desnaturación: 334
• 2 Assemblies at Almagro and Ávila: 341
• 3 Alfonso Writes to his Son: 344
• 4 Agreement in Seville: 351
• 5 The North African Moors in the Peninsula: 357
• 6 Don Sanchos Intervention: 365
• Chapter Eleven The Problems of Succession: 369
• 2 Alfonso Changes the Rules: 372
• 3 Civil War in Navarra: 377
• 4 Mysterious Executions: 383
• 5 New Marinid Invasion: 395
• Chapter Twelve Don Sancho is Declared Successor: 400
• 2 The Queens Flight: 403
• 3 The Siege of Algeciras and the Return of the Queen: 410
• 4 New Initiatives against the North African Moors: 415
• 5 Don Çag de la Meleha: 418
• 6 The Memoriale Secretum and International Politics: 420
• 7 Negotiations with Philip III of France: 428
• 8 The Campillo Treaty: 434
• Chapter Thirteen Deposition and Civil War: 437
• 2 The Conflict between Alfonso and Sancho Erupts: 439
• 3 Don Sanchos Rebellion: 447
• 4 Deposition of Alfonso X: 450
• 5 Causes of the Deposition: 456
• 6 Alfonso Defends Himself: 465
• Chapter Fourteen Don Sancho Seeks the Consolidation of Power The Curse: 471
• 2 Alfonso Reacts: 475
• 3 Civil War: 478
• 4 Don Sancho Cursed and Disinherited: 483
• 5 The Rebellion Falters: 487
• 6 The Popes Intervention: 494
• 7 Attempts at Reconciliation: 498
• Chapter Fifteen The Last Wills of Alfonso X: 504
• 2 Second Last Will: 511
• 3 Cultural Concerns until the End: 518
• 4 Alfonso Forgives Don Sancho The End: 521
• 5 Alfonsos Portraits: 523
• Conclusion In Praise of Knowledge: 541
• Bibliography: 567
• Index of Names: 575

About the author

H. Salvador Mart nez, Ph.D. (1972) in Medieval Studies, University of Toronto, is Professor of Spanish and Medieval culture at New York University. He has published extensively on medieval and Renaissance literature and culture, including "El 'Poema de Almer a' y la pica rom nica" (Gredos, 1975), "La rebeli n de los burgos" (Tecnos, 1992) and "Convivencia en la Espa a del siglo XIII" (Polifemo, 2006).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Alfonso X, the Learned: A Biography; Volume 146 of Studies in the History of Christian Traditions
• Author: H. Salvador Mart Nez
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: BRILL, 2010
• ISBN: 9004181474, 9789004181472
• Length: 589 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Royalty; History / Europe / General; History / Renaissance