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Cronica Ramon Muntaner Biblioteca El Escorial
A drawing of Ramon Muntaner writing his Chronicle (around 1340)

The Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner is a very long history book. It was written by Ramon Muntaner, a Catalan writer and leader, between 1325 and 1328. He wrote it in Xirivella, a town in the Kingdom of Valencia. This book is one of the four most important history books written in the Catalan language during the 1200s and 1300s.

The Chronicle tells the story of the Crown of Aragon. This was a powerful kingdom that included parts of modern-day Spain and Italy. The book also shares Muntaner's own adventures. He traveled to places like Spain, Sicily, Greece, and North Africa. The story covers a long period, from 1207 to 1328. It starts with the birth of James I of Aragon and ends with the crowning of Alfonso IV of Aragon.

One of the most important parts of the book is about the Catalan Company. This was a group of soldiers who went on an expedition to the Byzantine Empire in 1303. Ramon Muntaner was the treasurer for this group. Being part of this journey likely made him want to write his Chronicle. He often wrote "I was there" to show he saw these events himself.

Who Was Ramon Muntaner?

Ramon Muntaner was born in Peralada in 1265. His family was important. When he was nine, King James I of Aragon visited his home. This was a very special memory for Muntaner. He wrote about it with great feeling in his Chronicle. He said that seeing King James I as a child inspired him to become a writer. He wanted to explain everything he had seen.

In 1285, his hometown of Peralada was destroyed. This happened during a war against the Crown of Aragon. Muntaner had to leave his home. When he was 20, he helped conquer Menorca. Later, he fought against the French in the War of Sicily. In 1300, he was at the Siege of Messina. He worked with Roger de Flor as his company's administrator.

In 1302, he joined Roger de Flor on an expedition to the East. He left the company in 1307 and got married in 1311. In 1315, he had an important job. He had to take a baby, who would become King Jaume III of Mallorca, from Sicily to Perpignan. He delivered the baby to his grandparents.

Muntaner thought about his life for ten years. Then, in 1325, when he was 60, he had a special dream. This dream made him start writing his Chronicle in Valencia. He finished it three years later. Ramon Muntaner passed away in Ibiza in 1336.

What is the Chronicle About?

Muntaner knew all the kings of Aragon, Mallorca, and Sicily from his time. He had a personal connection with them. For the early parts of his book, he used other history texts. But for the later parts, especially after King Alfons el Franc, he mostly wrote about his own experiences.

Muntaner wrote his Chronicle to be read out loud. He often called his listeners "lords." He wanted to connect with them. He used lively and everyday language. He would ask questions like "What should I say?" to keep them interested.

The main goal of his book was to praise the kings of Aragon. Muntaner was very loyal to the crown. He believed that the Catalan and Aragonese people were connected by blood, shared destiny, and language. He called their language the "most beautiful catalanesc in the world." He felt a strong sense of national pride.

Muntaner also worried about his community splitting apart. New kingdoms like Mallorca, Valencia, and Sicily were being formed. He wanted everyone to stay united. He used the example of a "mata de jonc" (a rush plant) to show the value of staying together. Just like a single rush is weak but a bundle is strong.

Through his work, Muntaner also showed a desire for Spain to be reunited. He wrote about a meeting between the kings of Aragon and Castile. The King of Castile suggested an alliance of four kings in Spain. Muntaner added: "...if these four Kings of Spain... who are of one flesh and blood, held together, little need they fear all the other powers of the world."

Differences with Another Chronicle

Ramon Muntaner started writing his Chronicle in 1325. This was 17 years after a Greek historian, George Pachymeres, wrote his own book. Pachymeres' book, De Michaele et Andronico Palæologis, tells the Greek side of the story. It focuses on the bad things the Catalan Company did until 1308.

Muntaner's Chronicle is the only Western history book about the Catalan Company. In some ways, Muntaner's book praises Roger de Flor and the Company. It also acts as a different version of events compared to Pachymeres' book. Muntaner tells about things the Greek writer leaves out. He also avoids explaining some events that Pachymeres describes in detail.

Here are some examples of these differences:

  • Massacre of the Genoese: Pachymeres says this started because Roger de Flor owed money. Muntaner does not explain why the fighting began.
  • Battles and Executions: Pachymeres mentions a minor battle at Germe and executions there. He also talks about executions at Kula. He calls Roger de Flor "bloodthirsty" for wanting to execute Greek soldiers. Muntaner does not mention these events.
  • War Tributes: Pachymeres says Roger de Flor forced cities like Philadelphia and Ephesus to pay unfair taxes. Muntaner does not mention these tributes.
  • Siege of Magnesia: Pachymeres writes that the governor of Magnesia killed the Company's soldiers and stole their treasure. He then resisted a siege. Muntaner does not mention this.
  • Numbers: Muntaner often gives numbers for armies or casualties. His numbers always make Roger de Flor and the Catalan Company look better. We don't know where he got these numbers.

Copies and Editions of the Chronicle

Muntaner's Chronicle was very popular in the 1300s and 1400s. Parts of it were even used in another famous book, Tirant lo Blanch. The first printed version came out in 1558. This was a time when many old history books were being looked at again. The city of Valencia paid for this first edition. More printed versions appeared in the 1800s. An English translation was even made in 1920-21.

Old Manuscripts

There are eight old copies of the Chronicle. The oldest one is from 1342. None of these copies seem to be written by Muntaner himself. They have small mistakes or missing parts.

  • Manuscript A (around 1340): This copy is not complete. It has a famous drawing of Muntaner writing.
  • Manuscript C (1342): This is the only complete old copy. It was written by one person.

Printed Editions

Many complete versions of the Chronicle have been printed over the years.

  • The first one was in 1558 in Valencia.
  • Another important one was in 1844 by Karl Lanz.
  • Later editions by Josep Maria Casacuberta (1927–1952) and Ferran Soldevila (1971) are also well-known.

Translations

The Chronicle has been translated into many languages.

  • Spanish: The first translation was in the 1500s by Miguel Monterde.
  • French: Jean A.C. Buchon translated it in 1827.
  • German: Karl F. W. Lanz made a German version in 1842.
  • Italian: Filippo Moisè translated it in 1844.
  • English: Anna Kinsky Goodenough published an English translation in 1921.
  • It has also been translated into Bulgarian and other languages.

Old Names in the Chronicle

The Chronicle uses many old names for places. These names are called "exonyms." Many of them are almost forgotten today. For example, Candia is now called Heraklion in Crete. Here are some other old names from Muntaner's book:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Crónica de Muntaner para niños

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