Andreu Ivars facts for kids

Andreu Ivars i Cardona, also known as Andrés Ivars, was a Spanish Franciscan priest and historian. He was born in Benissa, Spain, in 1885. He spent his life studying history and writing about it. Sadly, he died in 1936 in Gata de Gorgos, Spain, during a difficult time in his country's history.

Becoming a Historian

Andreu Ivars started his journey to become a Franciscan in 1900. He joined the Franciscan convent of Sant Esperit near Sagunt, in the Valencian region. The next year, he officially became a Franciscan. In 1909, he became a priest.

Because he was a very bright student, he was sent to Rome, Italy. There, he studied important subjects like Patristics (the study of early Christian writers) and the history of the Church. At the same time, he learned about Paleography (the study of old handwriting) and Diplomatics (the study of old official documents). He learned these skills at the Public School of the Vatican Secret Archives. In 1913, he moved to Florence, Italy, for a year to work at a historical research center.

His Work and Writings

In 1914, Andreu Ivars joined the team behind a special history magazine called Archivo Ibero-Americano (AIA). He started writing for this magazine. By 1919, he became its vice-director, and in 1928, he became the director.

From 1920 until 1936, he lived in Madrid, Spain. He dedicated his time to historical research. Many of his discoveries were published in the AIA magazine. He wrote many articles and books in both Spanish and Valencian. His writings covered history and culture, especially about the Franciscans and the Valencian region. He was very interested in the medieval Valencian writer Francesc Eiximenis.

A Tragic End

On July 20, 1936, the Spanish Civil War began. The building where the AIA magazine was located was set on fire. Many Franciscans were captured. Andreu Ivars was not there at that moment. However, his personal library, archive, and all his research were destroyed in the fire.

He first went to a clinic where he worked as a chaplain. Then he stayed with friends. Finally, he decided to go to his family in Benissa. On his way, he was stopped and arrested in Denia. The next morning, on September 8, 1936, his body was found near Gata de Gorgos. He had been shot. Because of how he died, there is a special process to consider him for beatification. This is a step towards being recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church.

His Published Works

Andreu Ivars wrote several important books and many articles. His work helped people learn more about history, especially about the Franciscans and the Valencian region.

Books

• Dos creuades valenciano-mallorquines a les costes de Berberia. This book was about two crusades from Valencia and Mallorca to the coast of North Africa. It won an award in 1919.
• El escritor Fr. Francisco Eximénez en Valencia (1383-1408). This book focused on the writer Francesc Eiximenis and his time in Valencia.

Articles

He wrote many articles for the Archivo Ibero-Americano (AIA) and other publications. These articles covered various historical topics, including:

• When and where a prince named Fray Pedro de Aragón died.
• The relationship between the leaders of Valencia and an inquisitor named Fr. Nicolás Eymerich.
• Who wrote a specific book about confession printed in 1497.
• Documents from King Martin the Human about the Franciscans.
• Different versions of a book called El Llibre dels Àngels by Francesc Eiximenis.
• Franciscan historians from the Province of Valencia.
• The position of King Pedro IV of Aragón during the Great Schism (a split in the Church).
• Information about a theologian named Fr. Nicolás Costa.
• A Valencian poet from the 15th century named Francesc Ferrer.
• The connection of Queen María de Luna of Aragón to the Franciscans.

Literary Reviews

Andreu Ivars also wrote reviews of other historical and religious books. He would read new books and share his thoughts on them. This helped other scholars know which books were important.

See also

In Spanish: Andrés Ivars para niños