Felip de Malla facts for kids

Felip de Malla (born 1370 – died 12 July 1431) was an important person from Catalonia, a region in Spain. He was a religious leader, a wise thinker, a great speaker, and a poet. Felip was a trusted advisor to three kings: Martin the Humane, Ferdinand of Antequera, and Alfonso the Magnanimous. He also served as the seventeenth President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, which is like the government of Catalonia, from 1425 to 1428.

Early Life and Education

Felip de Malla was born in Barcelona. He studied literature and philosophy at the University of Lleida. Later, he earned a special degree called a Master's of Theology from the famous University of Paris. This means he became an expert in religious studies. After his studies, he became a priest.

Felip was known for his amazing speeches and his clear writing style, which was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers. He read works by famous authors like Pindar, Alcaeus, Horace, and Catullus. Many of his own writings have survived to this day.

Important Writings

Between 1419 and 1424, Felip wrote his most important book, called Memorial del peccador reemut. This book was about Christian beliefs, and it also discussed Judaism and paganism. Today, you can find this original book at the Biblioteca de Catalunya in Barcelona. Two early printed versions of his book were made in 1483 and 1495.

Working for the Kings

In 1408, King Martin appointed Felip as a "counsellor and business promoter of the court." This meant he was an important advisor to the king. He kept this job under the next two kings, Ferdinand and Alfonso.

Felip played a big part in important historical events. He helped with the discussions that led to the Compromise of Caspe. This was a major agreement that decided who would be the next king of Aragon. Felip strongly supported Ferdinand of Antequera, and his influence helped Ferdinand become king.

Felip also worked to end the Western Schism, a time when there were multiple popes claiming leadership of the Catholic Church. He attended the Council of Constance, a big meeting of church leaders, and worked against one of the popes, Benedict XIII.

Poetry and Public Speaking

In February 1413, a poetry contest was held in Barcelona. Felip de Malla gave both the opening and closing speeches for this event. His speeches were written in a mix of Catalan and Latin, showing off his great education and knowledge. He often spoke about religious topics.

During the contest, King Ferdinand was involved in a war. So, Felip asked the poets to write short, strong poems about war. These types of poems were called sirventes.

Later Life and Presidency

In 1423, Felip became a dean in the diocese of Huesca, which is a high position in the church. Then he became an almoner in Elne. In 1424, he was promoted to archdeacon of Barcelona, a role he held until he died.

In 1425, Felip de Malla became the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This was a challenging time because there were growing disagreements between the king and the nobles. During his time as president, Felip had to deal with several issues:

• People from Castile (another part of Spain) were getting government jobs in Catalonia.
• King Alfonso seemed more interested in conquering Naples than in his Spanish territories.
• The king tried to create a special area for his younger brother, Peter, in Cervera.

In 1428, Catalonia faced more difficulties. A terrible disease called the plague spread, and a strong earthquake struck on February 2. Felip had the important job of writing to the king, who was in Valencia, to tell him about the earthquake. His letter describing the event still exists today. Felip left his role as president later that year and passed away in Barcelona on July 12, 1431.

See also

In Spanish: Felip de Malla para niños