Francesc Eiximenis

Francesc Eiximenis (died 1409) was a Franciscan Catalan writer who lived in the 14th-century Crown of Aragon. He was possibly one of the more successful medieval Catalan writers since his works were widely read, copied, published and translated. Therefore, it can be said that both in the literary and in the political sphere he had a lot of influence. Among his readers were numbered important people of his time, such as the kings of the Crown of Aragon Peter IV, John I and Martin I, the queen Maria de Luna (wife of Martin I), and the Pope of Avignon Benedict XIII.
Life
Francesc Eiximenis was born around 1330, possibly in Girona. When he was very young, he became a Franciscan and his education began in the Franciscan schools of the Kingdom of Aragon. Later, he attended the most important universities of Europe: the University of Oxford and the University of Paris. The University of Oxford influenced him notably, since the Franciscans had there an important school. Thus, several English Franciscans (and British authors in general) are the thinkers who most influenced Eiximenis, such as Robert Grosseteste (whom Eiximenis calls Linconiensis, since he was bishop of Lincoln), John of Wales, Richard Kilvington, Alexander of Hales, Richard of Middleton, Thomas Bradwardine, William of Ockham, and John Duns Scotus.
In 1371 there was an attempt to bring him to the University of Lleida as a teacher. But he lacked the title of Doctor in Theology (magister in sacra pagina), and so this attempt did not go further. Eiximenis acquired this title in 1374 at the University of Toulouse, with the financial help and support of the king Peter IV.
Eiximenis subsequently returned to Catalonia, where he was considered very intellectual. He was on good terms with the Court of the Crown of Aragon and with the ruling social class of Barcelona and València. Most of his works were written in Valencia, where he stayed from 1382 to 1408. There he was consultant of the jurats (the city representatives) and of the Consell (ruling organ of the city).
In Valencia, Eiximenis' activity, besides his literary tasks, was tireless. The year 1391 was a very difficult one for the city and kingdom of Valencia, since there were many social problems. Then Eiximenis organized a kind of "praying army" in some monasteries and convents around Valencia. In 1392 he and other people received the assignment of checking the Jewish books that were stolen during the 1391 pogrom. At the end of 1397 he was a member of a commission that would advise king Martin I about the Western Schism. In 1397 and 1398 he undertook the organization of two crusades of Valencians and Majorcans against the Muslim pirates of North Africa. In 1399 Eiximenis was also president of a commission that sought to unify all the schools of Valencia. The Consell (ruling organ of Valencia) rejected that in 1400, but this attempt was anyway a clear first step towards the University of Valencia, that was founded officially in 1499. The last years of Eiximenis in Valencia (1404–1408) were devoted to the foundation and endowment of the Franciscan convent of Sant Esperit (in Gilet, near Sagunto). This convent was founded by the queen Maria de Luna.
In 1408 Eiximenis took part in the Council of Perpignan. There the Pope of Avignon Benedict XIII appointed him first Patriarch of Jerusalem and later apostolic administrator (interim bishop) of the diocese of Elna (ancient name of the diocese of Perpignan).
Eiximenis died in Perpignan, possibly on 23 April 1409.
Works
In Catalan
Eiximenis wrote the following works in Catalan:
Tractat d'usura (Treaty about Usury). Short treatise about usury according to the Canon Law. This matter was much debated in the Middle Ages by many scholars.
Lo Crestià (The Christian). According to Curt Wittlin the name should be Lo Cristià. It was a huge project of Summa Theologica written in popular language. The original project consisted of 13 books, but only four were written:
Primer del Crestià (First of the Christian). It deals with the fundamentals of Christianity.
Segon del Crestià (Second of the Christian). It deals with the temptation.
Terç del Crestià (Third of the Christian). It deals with the different kinds of sins and their remedies.
Dotzè del Crestià (Twelfth of the Christian). It deals with government and politics in general. Nevertheless, the content is encyclopedic.
Regiment de la cosa pública (Government of the Republic). It was a gift from Eiximenis to the jurats (representatives of the city) of Valencia, when he went to Valencia in 1383. It gives advice for good government. This work shows the influence of John of Wales' Communiloquium, according to Albert Hauf. This work was also included as the third part of the Dotzè del Crestià.
Llibre dels àngels (Book of Angels). It is a very complete treatise about angelology but with several political thoughts. This book was dedicated to the Valencian knight Pere d'Artés.
Llibre de les dones (Book of Women). It begins as just a book about women's education; but four-fifths of this work deal about theology and the fundamentals of Catholic morality. The book was dedicated to the countess of Prades, Sanxa Ximenes d'Arenós.
Vida de Jesucrist (Life of Jesus Christ). It is a biography of Jesus Christ with theological thoughts and also contemplative content. This work was very much influenced by Pseudo-Bonaventure's Meditations on the Life of Christ and also by the vehement Franciscan Ubertino da Casale according to Albert Hauf. This book was also dedicated to the Valencian knight Pere d'Artés.
Scala Dei or Tractat de contemplació (Stairs towards God or Treatise about Contemplation). It is a short treatise about morals and theology. This book was dedicated to the queen Maria de Luna.
Two autograph letters in Catalan (from 15 July 1392 and 12 March 1396). The first (15 July 1392) was addressed to King Martin I (who at the time was only a prince), and is of interest since Eiximenis gives him advice in the letter about the good government of Sicily.
In Latin
Eiximenis wrote the following works in Latin:
De Triplici Statu Mundi (About the three states of the world). It is a short eschatological treatise. There are doubts however, that Eiximenis is the author of this work.
Allegationes (Statements). In Valencia there was a conflict between the Church and the State, and several important people were asked to express their opinion about that. This is the part that concerns Eiximenis. Here Eiximenis has a very strong theocratic point of view.
A short part of his Summa Theologica. This extract is very short, and deals with some theological matters.
Ars Praedicandi Populo (Manual for the preaching to the people). It is a very interesting manual about preaching.
A sermon (or a part of it).
Pastorale (Pastoral). It deals with advice for priests and bishops, and it follows the classical Saint Gregory's Pastorale. This book was dedicated to Hug de Llupià, bishop of Valencia.
Psalterium alias Laudatorium Papae Benedicto XIII dedicatum (Psalter or Doxology Dedicated to Pope Benedict XIII). It is a very beautiful collection of 344 prayers. As the title shows, this book was dedicated to the Avignon pope Benedict XIII.
Two other books have been attributed to Eiximenis: the Cercapou, and the Doctrina compendiosa. The Doctrina Compendiosa shows however a very strong influence from Eiximenis' political theories. there was also an adaptation of Llibre de las Dones in Spanish, which was called Carro de las Donas.
Eiximenis' works had much success in his time, as evidenced by more than 200 manuscripts of his works that have survived. Another example was the Psaltiri devotíssim (Translation into Catalan of 100 out of the 344 prayers of the Psalterium alias Laudatorium). The incunabulum edition of this book had 2000 copies, i.e. more than double both editions of the Tirant lo Blanc (Valencia 1490 and Barcelona 1497). It was the biggest incunabulum edition of the whole medieval Catalan literature.
There were also a lot of translations during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Llibre de les Dones was translated into Spanish. One of the Spanish translations was used for the education of the four daughters of the Catholic Monarchs. The Llibre dels Àngels had great international success and was translated into several languages: Spanish, Latin, French and even Flemish (it was possibly the only book from the medieval Catalan literature that was translated into that language). And the Vida de Jesucrist was translated into Spanish and French.
There are finally two other examples that show the international spreading of Eiximenis' works. First of all, the French translation of the Llibre dels Àngels was the first book that in 1478 was printed in Geneva. Secondly, the Spanish translation of the Vida de Jesucrist was the first book that was printed in Granada in 1496 after the conquest of the city by the Catholic Monarchs.
Unfortunately we have few modern editions of Eiximenis' works. Most of the modern editions of his works have been prepared by Curt Wittlin and by Albert Hauf.
Editions
Obres de Francesc Eiximenis (OFE) — Complete Works of Francesc Eiximenis
"Dotzè Llibre del Crestià. Part 1, Volum 1", Girona, Universitat, 2005, lxvii + 619 pp. (OFE, 1). Ed. by Xavier Renedo, Sadurní Martí et al.
"Dotzè Llibre del Crestià. Part 2, Volum 1", Girona, Universitat, 1986, xxxviii+ 518 pp. (OFE, 3). Ed. by Curt Wittlin et al.
"Dotzè Llibre del Crestià. Part 2, Volum 2", Girona, Universitat, 1987, 649 pp. (OFE, 4) Ed. by Curt Wittlin et al.
Other editions
Lo Llibre de les Dones (Barcelona, Curial, 1981. Ed. by Curt Wittlin.
De Sant Miquel Arcàngel (5è tractat del Llibre dels Àngels. Barcelona, Curial, 1983. Ed. by Curt Wittlin.
Psalterium alias Laudatorium (Toronto, PIMS, 1988. Ed. by Curt Wittlin.
Àngels e demonis (Quart tractat del Llibre dels Àngels). Barcelona, Quaderns Crema, 2003. Ed. by Sadurní Martí.
Anthologies
Llibres, mestres i sermons. Antologia de textos. Barcelona, Barcino, 2005. Ed. by David Guixeras and Xavier Renedo, 268 pp.
"Francesc Eiximenis. An Anthology. Barcelona/Woodbridge: Barcino/Tamesis, 2008. Transl. by Robert Hughes.
Digital editions of his works
Manuscripts
First half (chapters 1-523) of the Terç del Crestià (BNC, ms. 457).
Llibre dels Àngels (University of Barcelona, Fons de reserva, ms. 86).
Vida de Jesucrist (BNC, mss. 459-460).
Scala Dei (University of Barcelona, Fons de reserva, ms. 88).
Incunabula
Primer del Crestià (Valencia, Lambert Palmart, 1483).
First half (chapters 1-473) of the Dotzè del Crestià (Valencia, Lambert Palmart, 1484).
Regiment de la cosa pública, (Valencia, Cristòfor Cofman, 1499).
Llibre dels àngels, (Barcelona, Joan Rosembach, 1494).
Llibre de les Dones, (Barcelona, Joan Rosembach, 1495).
Translation into Spanish of the Vida de Jesucrist, (Granada, Meinard Ungut and Johannes Pegnitzer, 1496).
Translation into Spanish of the Llibre dels àngels (The title is Libro de los santos ángeles. Burgos, Fadrique de Basilea, 1490).
Pastorale (Barcelona, Pere Posa, 1495).
Scala Dei (Barcelona, Diego de Gumiel, 1494).
Translation into French of the Llibre dels Àngels (Geneva, Adam Steinschaber, 1478).
Translation into French of the Llibre dels Àngels (Lyon, Guillaume Le Roy, 1486).
Old editions
Translation into Spanish of the Llibre dels Àngels (The title is La Natura Angélica. Alcalá de Henares, Miguel de Eguía, 1527).
Modern editions and transcripts
Pastorale. Transcript and translation into Catalan. Montserrat Martínez Checa's doctorate thesis (UAB, Bellaterra, 1994).
De triplici statu mundi (Edition by Albert Hauf).
Summa theologica (Edition by León Amorós, OFM).
Autograph letters (15.07.1392 and 12.03.1396. Edition by Sadurní Martí).
Psalterium alias Laudatorium (Toronto, PIMS, 1988. Edition by Curt Wittlin).
Lo Llibre de les Dones (Barcelona, Curial, 1981. Edition by Curt Wittlin).
De Sant Miquel Arcàngel (5th treaty from the Llibre dels Àngels. Barcelona, Curial, 1983. Edition by Curt Wittlin).
Complete works
Francesc Eiximenis' complete works
References
External links
Digital biographies
Eiximenis' biography in www.eiximenis.tk
Eiximenis' biography in www.eiximenis.tk
Information about Francesc Eiximenis in Narpan.
Información sobre Francesc Eiximenis in the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya website.
Information about Francesc Eiximenis in the CulturCat website, that depends on the Generalitat de Catalunya. There are also versions available in Spanish, in English, in French and in Occitan
"Francesc Eiximenis" entry in the Enciclopedia Franciscana website. There are many biographical articles about Francesc Eiximenis.
Digital articles about Eiximenis
Fray Francisco Eiximenis : Su significación religiosa, filosófico-moral, política y social, Tomás Carreras Artau's article in Annals de l'Institut d'Estudis Gironins 1 (1946).
Perfil espiritual de Eiximenis Article of the Capuchin friar Nolasc del Molar in Revista de Girona 22 (1963).
L’autocomprensione della comunità politica in Francesc Eiximenis, Paolo Evangelisti's article, in Enrahonar 42 (2009).
Orígenes del pactismo republicano, Article about Francesc Eiximenis from Salvador Giner (President of the Institute of Catalan Studies), in El País (13.01.2010).
Digital books about Eiximenis
Lluís Brines' doctorate thesis about Eiximenis' political and social thought (2004).
Francesc Eiximenis' documented biography by Lluís Brines (2018).
Year of birth uncertain
1330 births
1409 deaths
Catalan Friars Minor
Catalan encyclopedists
Roman Catholic writers
Franciscan scholars
Franciscan theologians
Medieval Catalan-language writers
Writers from the Valencian Community
Franciscan writers
14th-century Spanish writers
14th-century Spanish philosophers
Alumni of the University of Oxford
Medieval Spanish theologians
Catholic philosophers
Scholastic philosophers
14th-century writers in Latin
14th-century Roman Catholic theologians
14th-century Catalan people
15th-century writers in Latin
15th-century Catalan people
15th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Kingdom of Aragon
Bishops of Elna
Franciscan bishops