Juan de Flores facts for kids
Juan de Flores (born around 1455, died around 1525) was a Spanish writer and an important person at the royal court. He was a knight, a diplomat, and helped manage things for the king and queen.
He is best known for his two popular love stories: Grimalte y Gradissa and Grisel y Mirabella. He probably wrote these books between 1470 and 1477. They were published around 1495.
For a long time, not much was known about his life. He worked closely with the Duke of Alba. In 1476, he became the official historian for King Fernando and Queen Isabella. He was also involved in some political events, like a civil war in the 1470s.
Juan de Flores was one of the most widely read Spanish authors in Europe. His books were incredibly popular. His story Grisel y Mirabella had at least 56 editions in different languages before Miguel de Cervantes was even born! His popularity was similar to other famous Spanish writers of his time.
Contents
Juan de Flores's Books
Grimalte y Gradissa
This story is like a follow-up to another famous book, Elegia di Madonna Fiammetta, by Giovanni Boccaccio. In Grimalte y Gradissa, a young Spanish lady named Gradissa is very sad about what happened to Lady Fiammetta in Boccaccio's book. Gradissa decides she will not accept any man's love, not even from her noble admirer, Grimalte.
Grimalte decides to find Lady Fiammetta. He eventually finds her and tries to help her and her lover, Panfilo, get back together. But he doesn't succeed. Fiammetta dies, and Panfilo promises to live alone in the forest.
Grimalte then returns to Gradissa, hoping to win her back. But she convinces him to go find Panfilo again. Grimalte does this and finds Panfilo alone and silent in the forest. Grimalte himself then becomes like a wild man, seeing visions of Fiammetta.
Grisel y Mirabella
This is another famous story by Juan de Flores. It goes like this:
The King of Scotland loves his daughter, Mirabella, very much. He doesn't want her to marry anyone, so he keeps her locked up. But a young noble named Grisel finds a way to her, and they fall in love.
A servant tells the king about them, and both Grisel and Mirabella are put in prison. The king decides to use a special law. This law says that the person who is more at fault must die, and the other will be sent away.
Under torture, neither Grisel nor Mirabella blames the other. So, the king decides to have a public debate. A woman named Braçayda defends the women, and a man named Torrellas defends the men.
After a long debate, the judges decide that women are more at fault. Mirabella is sentenced to be burned at the stake. As the fire is being prepared, Grisel throws himself into the flames. The crowd stops the execution, believing that God has chosen his victim. But that night, Mirabella throws herself into her father's courtyard to be eaten by his lions.
Parts of this story are similar to a tale in Boccaccio's Decameron. The debate about who is more guilty in love was a common topic in books from that time.
El Triunfo de Amor
Juan de Flores also wrote an allegorical story called El Triunfo de Amor (which means The Triumph of Love). In this story, Cupid, the god of love, is captured by angry lovers who have died. He is put on trial and sentenced to death.
However, Cupid's supporters save him. In return, Cupid changes the rules of love for men and women. He makes men virtuous and pure, and women are now the ones who have to beg for their love.
Other Works
Three other works are believed to have been written by Juan de Flores:
- A series of letters between the famous characters Tristan and Isolde.
- A royal history book called Crónica incompleta de los Reyes Católicos.
- La coronación de la señora Gracisla, a story about a maiden in a beauty contest.
Translations and Influence
Grisel y Mirabella became very popular when it was translated into Italian in 1521. It was also translated into French in 1530.
De Flores's novel was also popular in England. It was translated into English five times between 1556 and 1586. It even inspired a play called Women Pleased by John Fletcher in 1647.
Grimalte y Gradissa was translated into French in 1535.
The influence of Grisel y Mirabella can also be seen in a work by the famous Spanish writer Lope de Vega called La Ley Ejecutada.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Flores para niños
