The Historian's Notebook

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan ordered a payment to a harp-maker for at least two custom-made harps.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e22-jan15

Today's Document:

• Subject: Joan arranges payments for custom-made harps
• Date: January 15, 1387
• Day of the Week: Tuesday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1953 f18r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Granollers
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: Petro Palau, the harp-maker

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan issued an approval for a sale taking place in Girona.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e21-jan14

Today's Document:

• Subject: Joan approves a sale in Girona
• Date: January 14, 1387
• Day of the Week: Monday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1952 f9v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Granollers
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: Prohomens of Girona

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to the Pope that some difficulties, arduis urgentibus, have occurred in the succession process. Also, at the beginning of this episode, I do a little check-in to share a bit about the project overall and how my interest in it got started.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e20-jan13

Today's Document:

• Subject: Violant writes to the Pope.
• Date: January 20, 1387
• Day of the Week: Sunday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f74r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: Pope Clement VII

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan summoned Esperandeu Cardona, an advisor closely connected to the Jewish community of Barcelona, to come to Granollers.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e19-jan12

Today's Document:

• Subject: Summons to a Jewish advisor to come to Granollers
• Date: January 12, 1387
• Day of the Week: Saturday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1952 f8r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Granollers
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: Esperandeu Cardona

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to the monastery and convent at Montserrat. Is it a routine recommendation letter or the installation of an agent who will report back? This episode also includes discussion of how to apply critical thinking to AI chatbot results.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e18-jan11

Today's Document:

• Subject: letter of recommendation to Montserrat monastery and convent
• Date: January 11, 1387
• Day of the Week: Friday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R
• Link to PARES
• Place: near Granollers
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: those in charge of room and board at Montserrat

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, King Pere's body was interred in the royal crypt. This document records the death of Pere the Ceremonious in a manner of certification at the end of a treasury record book. The episode relates a few notable events from the life of King Pere, who reigned from 1336-1387.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e17-jan10

Today's Document:

• Subject: an official record of the death of King Pere the Ceremonious
• Date: January 10, 1387
• Day of the Week: Thursday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA RP MR, vol. SG, 652, inside back cover (image 258)
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Recorder: Unnamed treasury official

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to Maria de Luna, her sister-in-law, Martí’s wife, asking Maria to come to Barcelona as soon as possible. This episode showcases Maria de Luna as a political powerhouse in the Crown of Aragon.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e15-jan8

Today's Document:

• Subject: Violant asks Maria de Luna to come to Barcelona
• Date: January 9, 1387
• Day of the Week: Wednesday
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f73r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Maria de Luna

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant established contact with the Crown's officials in Majorca. This episode provides a lot of background information about the history of the Crown of Aragon and also explains a little about the development of the Catalan language. The document itself is about Majorca, but that island's incorporation into the Crown of Aragon in the thirteenth century is just one part of the expansion of the Crown of Aragon.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e15-jan8

Today's Document:

• Subject: Violant establishes contact with Crown of Aragon administrators in Majorca
• Date: January 8, 1387
• Day of the Week: Tuesday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f72v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Governor of Majorca, Francesc de Sagarriga

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to Martí, telling him to put prisoners from Sibilla’s surrender in the castle of Santa Creu, but not in chains. This episode also explains into how contemporary scholars in queenship studies conceptualize power.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e14-jan7

Today's Document:

• Subject: Violant coordinates plans for the prisoners from Sibilla’s flight
• Date: January 7, 1387
• Day of the Week: Monday
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f72r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Martí

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant moved to organize plans for succession. January 6th is a day of transition of power in the Crown of Aragon in 1387. The king is dead. But in the absence of the new king, the queen must set the foundations of the new reign.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e13-jan6

Today's Document:

• Subject: Violant coordinating succession plans in Barcelona
• Date: January 6, 1387
• Day of the Week: Sunday
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f71v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Joan

Music Credits

The music in this episode is from The Troubadour Dance Instrumental by Melody Ayers-Griffiths