Chronica Prophetica facts for kids

The Chronica Prophetica (which means Prophetic Chronicle) is an old book written in Latin by a Christian person. It was created in April 883, likely near the court of Alfonso III of Asturias in Oviedo, Spain. This book uses a special old way of dating things called the Spanish Era. It's mostly about understanding a prophecy from the Bible's Book of Ezekiel concerning a figure named Gog. The author believed that the destruction of the Emirate of Córdoba (a Muslim kingdom in Spain) was connected to the end of the world. At that time, Christian armies were strong and raiding Muslim lands, which made the author very hopeful that Christians would soon take over all of Spain.

What is the Prophetic Chronicle?

The Chronica Prophetica is divided into six main parts, each telling a different story or explaining a different idea.

Ezekiel's Prophecy

This part is called Dicta Execielis profete, quod invenimus in libro pariticino. Here, the author shares his understanding of the prophet Ezekiel's words. He identifies "Gog" with the Goths, an old European people. He also says that "Ishmael" represents the Muslims. The author believed that the Goths would be defeated by the Muslims in their own land. But then, after 170 years of being under Muslim rule, the Goths would defeat the Muslims in Libya. The author thought this would happen on November 11, 883. He also dates his writing to "era 921," which was the seventeenth year of Alfonso's rule. The "libro pariticino" mentioned here is probably another old book called the Chronicon Ovetense.

Family Tree of the Saracens

This section is named Genealogia Sarracenorum. It gives a family tree of the Muslim ruler of Córdoba at the time, Muhammad I. The author traces his family back to Abraham and Hagar. However, the author mistakenly thought that the Arabs claimed to be descendants of Sarah, another important figure from the Bible.

The Story of Muhammad

Called Storia de Mameth, this part is one of the earliest life stories of Muhammad written in Latin. Other versions of his life story were also known around that time. The author wrote this part for a Christian audience. His goal was to make Muhammad look like a false prophet and a bad person. It was likely included in the Chronica to help justify the war against the Muslim kingdom of Córdoba.

Why Muslims Came to Spain

This section, Ratio Sarracenorum de sua ingressione in Spania, explains why the Muslims invaded Spain. The author says that Roderic, a Visigothic king, was defeated at the Battle of Guadalete on November 11, 714. He also talks about two separate invasions: one by Abu Zubra and another, a year later, by Tarik. It seems the author thought the historical figure Ṭāriq ibn Ziyad was actually two different people. The author blamed the Goths' defeat on their sins, saying that the city of Toledo, which had won against many peoples, was defeated because of its "disgusting sins."

The Goths Who Stayed in Spain

In De Goti, qui remanserint civitates Ispaniensis, the author describes what happened to the Goths after Roderic's defeat. He says they fought the Muslims for seven years. After that, they made a deal where their forts were taken down, and they became "servants of arms" (meaning they served in the military). The author then lists the rulers of Muslim Spain and predicts that their rule will end. He also briefly mentions two Viking raids. He says the "Lothomani" (Northmen or Vikings) attacked on August 1, 842, and again in July 858, when there was "killing in Lisbon".

Kings of Asturias

The final section, Reges que regnaberunt in Spania ex origine Ismaelitarum Beniumele, is a list of the kings of Asturias. It starts with Pelagius, who was an important early king of Asturias.

Translations

• Wolf, Kenneth Baxter (ed.). 2008. Chronica Prophetica. Medieval Texts in Translation.

See also

In Spanish: Crónica Profética para niños