The Historian's Notebook

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant revealed a new detail about Joan's near-death illness on April 28th, that the doctors had given up hope.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e132-may5

Today's Document:

• Subject: new details about Joan’s miraculous recovery from an illness that almost killed him
• Date: the hour of Vespers, May 5, 1387
• Day of the Week: Sunday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2053 f9r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: the Ambassadors of the Crown of Aragon in Avignon

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 informed her Ambassadors in Avignon that two of Sibilla de Fortià's knights have been imprisoned and that one of them, En Pontons, had carried out sorcery to make Joan ill.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e131-may4

Today's Document:

• Subject: the capture of two more of Sibilla de Fortià’s knights and Violant’s suspicion of evil sorcery
• Date: May 4, 1387
• Day of the Week: Saturday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2056 f98r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: Ambassadors in Avignon

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, in the midst of a conflict with Pisa, Joan ordered the evacuation of Catalan merchants from Pisa and sent Berenguer Morey there to produce a diplomatic resolution.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e130-may3

Today's Document:

• Subject: the evacuation and/or recall of the subjects of the Crown of Aragon currently in Pisa
• Date: May 3, 1387
• Day of the Week: Friday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1826 f124v-125r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: the Catalan merchant community in Pisa

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, a document in Violant's name ordered a change in jurisdiction, or possibly an enforcement, regarding a legal case among members of the Jewish aljama in Zaragoza.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e129-may2

Today's Document:

• Subject: intervention in a legal case in the Jewish aljama of Zaragoza
• Date: May 2, 1387
• Day of the Week: Thursday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1822 f148r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: Raymundo Correlles, a judge in Zaragoza

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, a letter attributed to Joan got sent to the King of Castile with a boilerplate exchange of pleasantries. There was no mention of Joan's illness or his near-death experience three days prior.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e128-may1

Today's Document:

• Subject: boilerplate exchange of pleasantries, states receipt of King of Castile’s April 9th letter
• Date: May 1, 1387
• Day of the Week: Wednesday
• Language: Castilian
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1751 f55r-v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: The King of Castile

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 related the details of how Joan nearly died from an illness that struck him on Sunday evening. The king’s extremities turned cold and he received last rites.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e127-apr30

Today's Document:

• Subject: a detailed account of Joan’s near death experience on Sunday evening
• Date: April 30, 1387
• Day of the Week: Tuesday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2037 f17r-v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: Crown of Aragon’s ambassadors to the Papal Court in Avignon

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 asked James the Cardinal of Valencia and about seven monasteries to recite prayers for Joan's health. Bartolomeo Sirvent entered into Joan's secret seal register a letter urgently summoning a Muslim doctor from Xàtiva.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e126-apr29

Today's Document:

• Subject: initiating an intercession of holy prayer for Joan’s health and an urgent summons for a doctor
• Date: April 29, 1387
• Day of the Week: Monday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number for Violant’s letter: ACA CR R2053 f7r-v
• Link to PARES for Violant’s Letter
• Archival Reference Number for Joan’s letter: ACA CR R1751 f53r-v
• Link to PARES for Joan’s Letter
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant (Joan’s register has Violant’s scribe in the probata)
• Recipients: Violant’s letters to James the Cardinal of Valencia and to several monasteries; Joan’s summons to Abrahim, a Muslim doctor in Xàtiva

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 sent Luchino Scarampi to negotiate with Guillermo Raymundo about the consequences of his capturing a Genoese merchant ship sailing from the Levant.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e125-apr28

Today's Document:

• Subject: the legal and diplomatic fallout from a Catalan pirate’s seizing of a Genoese ship
• Date: April 28, 1387
• Day of the Week: Sunday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1751 f53r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: the Catalan corsair Guillermo Raymundo, Count of Montcada and Agosto

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 thanked James the Cardinal of Valencia for sending the songbook that she had requested two days ago.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e124-apr27

Today's Document:

• Subject: gratitude for a borrowed manuscript and a promise to care for it diligently
• Date: April 27, 1387
• Day of the Week: Saturday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2053 f8r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: James the Cardinal of Valencia

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 informed the prohomens of Athens that the Viscount of Rocabertí should be taken seriously as a political leader and that he, Joan, plans to personally visit Athens.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e123-apr26

Today's Document:

• Subject: introducing Athens to their new leader, Felip Dalmau, the Viscount of Rocabertí
• Date: April 26, 1387
• Day of the Week: Friday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1751 f51v-52r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: the city leaders of Athens

Music Credits

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