The Historian's Notebook

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to James, now the Cardinal of Valencia, with the usual pleasantries and a request for him to send her a book of songs and poetry.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e122-apr25

Today's Document:

• Subject: pleasantries, the converting of schismatics, Joan’s health, and a songbook
• Date: April 25, 1387
• Day of the Week: Thursday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2037 f15v-16r
• 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, Violant asked the seneschal of Bellcaire to get a confiscated merchant ship released from the custody of a Genoese captain at the port of Tarascon, situated just across the Rhône River.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e121-apr24

Today's Document:

• Subject: confiscated Catalan merchant ship by Genoese authorities
• Date: April 24, 1387
• Day of the Week: Wednesday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2053 f7r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: the seneschal of Bellcaire

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 ordered all the officials in the province of Aragon to stop interfering with the collection of taxes from religious minority communities.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e120-apr23

Today's Document:

• Subject: tax collection from the Jewish and Muslim aljamas
• Date: April 23, 1387
• Day of the Week: Tuesday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR Cartas Reales, Juan_I, caja_1, nº60r-v
• Link to Fondo Histórico de Aragón
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: all the officials of the state in the province of Aragon

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 reminded the Governor of Aragon to carry out the confiscation of Bernat de Fortià's properties in Borja.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e119-apr22

Today's Document:

• Subject: ongoing effort to get compliance to previous orders for confiscation of property in Borja
• Date: April 22, 1387
• Day of the Week: Monday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2053 f5v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Sancho Martinez, Governor of Aragon

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 a customary letter of greetings and well-wishes, Violant told the Count of Armagnac that Joan had been convalescing from an illness and would soon be perfect.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e118-apr21

Today's Document:

• Subject: customary greetings to a French noble
• Date: April 21, 1387
• Day of the Week: Sunday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R2053 f4v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipient: Jean III, Count of Armagnac

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 ordered the bailiff of Girona to prosecute a group of young men who had kidnapped a Jewish boy and performed a forced baptism on him.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e117-apr20

Today's Document:

• Subject: legal action against Christian persecution of Jews in Girona
• Date: April 20, 1387
• Day of the Week: Saturday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R f
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: Bailiff 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, Joan told the Count of Empúries to stop letting pirates load up supplies in the ports of Roses and Cadaqués.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e116-apr19

Today's Document:

• Subject: the threat of pirate ships getting outfitted in nearby ports in Empuries
• Date: April 19, 1387
• Day of the Week: Friday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1825 f121r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: Count of Empúries

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 granted Hasdai Crescas authority to apply Jewish law to certain cases in the aljama of Zaragoza.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e115-apr18

Today's Document:

• Subject: jurdistictional ruling in favor of the existing administrators of the aljama
• Date: April 18, 1387
• Day of the Week: Thursday
• Language: Latin
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1891 f106r
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipients: Hasdai Crescas, the leader of the Zaragoza Aljama

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 ordered that the belongings and property of Mossen Pelegri de Montagut and Bernat Abello, two advisers of the former Queen Sibilla de Fortià, get transferred to Jacme Scrivus and Antoni Rosar.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e114-apr17

Today's Document:

• Subject: confiscation of property from an adversary’s companions
• Date: April 17, 1387
• Day of the Week: Wednesday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1819 f96v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Violant
• Recipients: Treasury officials Jacme Scriva and Anthoni Rosar

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 governor of Ibiza to wait for reinforcements and not abandon the island.

Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e113-apr16

Today's Document:

• Subject: fears of attack on Ibiza by ‘Barbary’ forces
• Date: April 16, 1387
• Day of the Week: Tuesday
• Language: Catalan
• Archival Reference Number: ACA CR R1751 f44v
• Link to PARES
• Place: Barcelona
• Sender: Joan
• Recipient: Orimano de Campartells, Governor of Ibiza

Music Credits

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