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Alfonso de Cartagena

March 14, 2024

Alfonso de Santa María de Cartagena (variants: Alfonso de Carthagena, Alonso de Cartagena; 1384 in Burgos – 1456 in Villasandino) was a Jewish convert to Christianity, a Roman Catholic bishop, diplomat, historian and writer of pre-Renaissance Spain.

Alfonso de Cartagena.

Biography edit

Alfonso de Cartagena was the second son of Rabbi Paul of Burgos, who converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1390. At the same time, Alfonso and his four brothers, one sister and two uncles were baptized. His mother, however, was not. Cartagena studied law in Salamanca, and "was a great lawyer in canon and civil law", according to Claros varones de Castilla (1486). He served as dean of Santiago de Compostela and Segovia, later becoming apostolic nuncio and canon of Burgos (1421).

He was equally distinguished as statesman and as priest. In 1434 he was named by King John II de Trastámara (1405–54) as the representative of Castile at the Council of Basel, succeeding Cardinal Alonso de Carrillo. There he composed a famous discourse in Latin and Castilian (Propositio... super altercatione praeminentia, 1434), calling on the council to recognize the superior right of the King of Castile over the King of England.

The humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II, in his memoirs called Cartagena "an ornament to the prelacy". Pope Eugenius IV thanked him for his services by making him bishop of Burgos when his father died (1435). Eugenius, learning that the bishop of Burgos was about to visit Rome, declared in full conclave that "in the presence of such a man he felt ashamed to be seated in St. Peter's chair".

After living in Rome for some time, dedicated to study, Cartagena returned to Burgos, where he founded a public school "of all doctrine", in which the most advanced Latinists of the Spain of the Catholic Monarchs studied. These included Rodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo, Alfonso de Palencia, Diego Rodríguez Almela and perhaps Fernán Díaz de Toledo. Cartagena was a friend of fellow writer and humanist Fernán Pérez de Guzmán (1378–1460), nephew of Pero López de Ayala and señor de Batres, who included an affectionate biographical outline in his Generaciones y semblanzas (1450). Cartagena dedicated his Oracional (1454), a treatise on prayer, to him.

Cartagena went to Portugal as an emissary of King John II, where he negotiated peace. He was also emissary to the kings of Germany and Poland and intervened in the conflicts of Castile with Aragon and Granada.

He helped with a large sum to build the monastery of San Pablo of Burgos and rebuilt other churches and monasteries of his see, among them the Cathedral of Burgos, whose construction had been interrupted a considerable time before.

In 1422 he undertook the translation of some works of Cicero (De officiis, De senectute), ordered by the secretary of King John II, Juan Alfonso de Zamora. He also translated Cicero's De inventione, for use by then Prince Duarte of Portugal. His translations into the vernacular followed a clear humanistic intent, that of teaching the wisdom of the classics to gentlemen interested in the works, but not scholars themselves. For the same reason, but also for another reason (his inclination to Stoicism), he translated the Treatises and Tragedies of Seneca the Younger. He disputed with the humanist Leonardo Bruni of Arezzo or Aretino (1370–1444) over a new translation by Bruni of the Ethics of Aristotle. The conflict became extended in scope when Pietro Candido Decembrio (1399–1477) came to the defense of Bruni, and Cardinal Pizolpasso (1370–1443) also became involved. At least six texts and 19 letters related to the dispute passed between Cartagena and Decembrio, including Cartagena's Declinations.

Heinrich Graetz ascribes to the influence exercised by Carthagena over Eugenius IV the latter's sudden change of attitude toward the Jews. Carthagena alone, says Graetz, could have been the author of the complaints against the pride and arrogance of the Castilian Jews, which induced the pope to issue the bull of 1442, withdrawing the privileges granted to them by former popes.

He wrote besides some treatises on moral philosophy and theology. At the age of 60 he went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, but died on the return to his diocese.

Works edit

 
Sepulcher of Alfonso de Cartagena in the Chapel of the Visitation of the Cathedral of Burgos

Besides his translations of twelve books of Seneca, in which he was particularly interested, and of the works of Cicero mentioned above, he wrote Rerum in Hispania gestarum Chronicon. Around 1456 he wrote a history of Spain based on Flavius Josephus, Florus and Jiménez de Rada and entitled Anacephaleosis that emphasized Castilian Gothicism. This was translated by Fernán Pérez de Guzmán and Juan de Villafuerte under the title Genealogía de los Reyes de España (Genealogy of the Kings of Spain) (1463). The translation was composed of a prologue and 94 chapters, of which seven contain a summary of the origins of the Spanish monarchy from Atalaric to the kings of Asturias and of Castile and León, and a genealogical tree showing their relationship to the monarchs of Navarre, Aragon and Portugal.

Among Carthagena's writings on history, morals, and other subjects, there is a commentary on the twenty-sixth Psalm, Judica me, Deus. Defensorium fidei, also called Defensorium unitatis christianae (1449–50), is a plea in defense of converted Jews. Oracional de Fernán Pérez (Burgos, 1487, written about 1454) is a treatise on a prayer edited around 1454 and addressed to his friend and confidant Fernán Pérez de Guzmán, in 55 chapters and an afterword on virtues and the Mass. He also wrote Doctrinal de Caballeros (Burgos, 1487, written around 1444), which consists of an adaptation of the second Partida of Alfonso X the Wise in four books covering faith, laws, war, rewards and punishments, revolts, challenges and duels, tournaments, vassals, bad actions and privileges.

Other works include Memoriales virtutum or Memorial de virtudes, various songs, aphorisms and compositions of love that appear dispersed in songbooks; Prefación a San Juan Crisóstomo, Allegationes... super conquista insularum Canariae (Allegations About the Conquest of the Canary Islands, 1437), which defends Castilian rights to the islands; Epistula... ad comitem de Haro (c. 1440), prescribing a program of readings to educate the nobility, among them the moral texts of Cato, and Contemptus mundanorum. He also wrote Duodenarium (1442), where he answers twelve questions of Pérez de Guzmán; Tractatus questionis ortolanus (1443–47), to Rodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo, in which he defends the superiority of sight over hearing; a response to the Questión sobre la caballería (1444) of Íñigo López de Mendoza, 1st Marquess of Santillana; a Devocional that has been lost, etc.

References edit

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Richard Gottheil and Isaac Broydé (1901–1906). "Carthagena, Don Alfonso de". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

  • (in Spanish) L. Fernández Gallardo, Alonso de Cartagena (1385-1456): una biografía política en la Castilla del siglo XV, Valladolid, Consejería de Educación y Cultura, 2002.
  • (in Spanish) L. Fernández Gallardo, Alonso de Cartagena: iglesia, política y cultura en la Castilla del siglo XV, Madrid, 2003, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
  • (in German) A. Birkenmajer, "Der Streit des Alonso von Cartagena mit Leonardo Bruni Aretino", en Clemens Baeumker (ed.), Vermischte Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der mittelalterlichen Philosophie, Münster, 1922, pp. 128–211. OCLC 1718905
  • (in Spanish) L. Serrano, Los conversos D. Pablo de Santa María y D. Alfonso de Cartagena, obispos de Burgos, gobernantes, diplomáticos y escritores, Madrid, 1942.
  • (in Spanish) F. Cantera, Burgos, Alvar García de Santa María y su familia de conversos. Historia de la judería de Burgos y sus conventos más egregios, Madrid, CSIC/Instituto Arias Montano, 1952.
  • N. Fallows, The Chivalric Vision of Alfonso de Cartagena: Study and Edition of the Doctrinal de los Caualleros, Newark, DE: Juan de la Cuesta Hispanic Monographs, 1995. ISBN 0-936388-75-7
  • (in Spanish) M. Penna, "Alfonso de Cartagena", Prosistas españoles del siglo XV, Madrid, Atlas (BAE), 1959, vol. I, pp. xxxvii-lxx. OCLC 186400886
  • (in Spanish) M. Morrás, "Sic et non: En torno a Alfonso de Cartagena y los studia humanitatis", Euphorosyne, 23 (1995), pp. 333–346.

External links edit

  • Prose in the age of Juan II 2006-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
  • (in Spanish) Alonso de Cartagena: iglesia, política y cultura en la Castilla del siglo XV, edición digital de la obra
  • Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Medieval and Early Modern Jurists: Alphonsus de Cartagena
Preceded by Bishop of Burgos
1435–1456 		Succeeded by
Luis de Acuña y Osorio

March 14, 2024
alfonso, cartagena, alfonso, santa, maría, cartagena, variants, alfonso, carthagena, alonso, cartagena, 1384, burgos, 1456, villasandino, jewish, convert, christianity, roman, catholic, bishop, diplomat, historian, writer, renaissance, spain, contents, biograp. Alfonso de Santa Maria de Cartagena variants Alfonso de Carthagena Alonso de Cartagena 1384 in Burgos 1456 in Villasandino was a Jewish convert to Christianity a Roman Catholic bishop diplomat historian and writer of pre Renaissance Spain Alfonso de Cartagena Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksBiography editAlfonso de Cartagena was the second son of Rabbi Paul of Burgos who converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1390 At the same time Alfonso and his four brothers one sister and two uncles were baptized His mother however was not Cartagena studied law in Salamanca and was a great lawyer in canon and civil law according to Claros varones de Castilla 1486 He served as dean of Santiago de Compostela and Segovia later becoming apostolic nuncio and canon of Burgos 1421 He was equally distinguished as statesman and as priest In 1434 he was named by King John II de Trastamara 1405 54 as the representative of Castile at the Council of Basel succeeding Cardinal Alonso de Carrillo There he composed a famous discourse in Latin and Castilian Propositio super altercatione praeminentia 1434 calling on the council to recognize the superior right of the King of Castile over the King of England The humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini who became Pope Pius II in his memoirs called Cartagena an ornament to the prelacy Pope Eugenius IV thanked him for his services by making him bishop of Burgos when his father died 1435 Eugenius learning that the bishop of Burgos was about to visit Rome declared in full conclave that in the presence of such a man he felt ashamed to be seated in St Peter s chair After living in Rome for some time dedicated to study Cartagena returned to Burgos where he founded a public school of all doctrine in which the most advanced Latinists of the Spain of the Catholic Monarchs studied These included Rodrigo Sanchez de Arevalo Alfonso de Palencia Diego Rodriguez Almela and perhaps Fernan Diaz de Toledo Cartagena was a friend of fellow writer and humanist Fernan Perez de Guzman 1378 1460 nephew of Pero Lopez de Ayala and senor de Batres who included an affectionate biographical outline in his Generaciones y semblanzas 1450 Cartagena dedicated his Oracional 1454 a treatise on prayer to him Cartagena went to Portugal as an emissary of King John II where he negotiated peace He was also emissary to the kings of Germany and Poland and intervened in the conflicts of Castile with Aragon and Granada He helped with a large sum to build the monastery of San Pablo of Burgos and rebuilt other churches and monasteries of his see among them the Cathedral of Burgos whose construction had been interrupted a considerable time before In 1422 he undertook the translation of some works of Cicero De officiis De senectute ordered by the secretary of King John II Juan Alfonso de Zamora He also translated Cicero s De inventione for use by then Prince Duarte of Portugal His translations into the vernacular followed a clear humanistic intent that of teaching the wisdom of the classics to gentlemen interested in the works but not scholars themselves For the same reason but also for another reason his inclination to Stoicism he translated the Treatises and Tragedies of Seneca the Younger He disputed with the humanist Leonardo Bruni of Arezzo or Aretino 1370 1444 over a new translation by Bruni of the Ethics of Aristotle The conflict became extended in scope when Pietro Candido Decembrio 1399 1477 came to the defense of Bruni and Cardinal Pizolpasso 1370 1443 also became involved At least six texts and 19 letters related to the dispute passed between Cartagena and Decembrio including Cartagena s Declinations Heinrich Graetz ascribes to the influence exercised by Carthagena over Eugenius IV the latter s sudden change of attitude toward the Jews Carthagena alone says Graetz could have been the author of the complaints against the pride and arrogance of the Castilian Jews which induced the pope to issue the bull of 1442 withdrawing the privileges granted to them by former popes He wrote besides some treatises on moral philosophy and theology At the age of 60 he went on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela but died on the return to his diocese Works edit nbsp Sepulcher of Alfonso de Cartagena in the Chapel of the Visitation of the Cathedral of BurgosBesides his translations of twelve books of Seneca in which he was particularly interested and of the works of Cicero mentioned above he wrote Rerum in Hispania gestarum Chronicon Around 1456 he wrote a history of Spain based on Flavius Josephus Florus and Jimenez de Rada and entitled Anacephaleosis that emphasized Castilian Gothicism This was translated by Fernan Perez de Guzman and Juan de Villafuerte under the title Genealogia de los Reyes de Espana Genealogy of the Kings of Spain 1463 The translation was composed of a prologue and 94 chapters of which seven contain a summary of the origins of the Spanish monarchy from Atalaric to the kings of Asturias and of Castile and Leon and a genealogical tree showing their relationship to the monarchs of Navarre Aragon and Portugal Among Carthagena s writings on history morals and other subjects there is a commentary on the twenty sixth Psalm Judica me Deus Defensorium fidei also called Defensorium unitatis christianae 1449 50 is a plea in defense of converted Jews Oracional de Fernan Perez Burgos 1487 written about 1454 is a treatise on a prayer edited around 1454 and addressed to his friend and confidant Fernan Perez de Guzman in 55 chapters and an afterword on virtues and the Mass He also wrote Doctrinal de Caballeros Burgos 1487 written around 1444 which consists of an adaptation of the second Partida of Alfonso X the Wise in four books covering faith laws war rewards and punishments revolts challenges and duels tournaments vassals bad actions and privileges Other works include Memoriales virtutum or Memorial de virtudes various songs aphorisms and compositions of love that appear dispersed in songbooks Prefacion a San Juan Crisostomo Allegationes super conquista insularum Canariae Allegations About the Conquest of the Canary Islands 1437 which defends Castilian rights to the islands Epistula ad comitem de Haro c 1440 prescribing a program of readings to educate the nobility among them the moral texts of Cato and Contemptus mundanorum He also wrote Duodenarium 1442 where he answers twelve questions of Perez de Guzman Tractatus questionis ortolanus 1443 47 to Rodrigo Sanchez de Arevalo in which he defends the superiority of sight over hearing a response to the Question sobre la caballeria 1444 of Inigo Lopez de Mendoza 1st Marquess of Santillana a Devocional that has been lost etc References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Richard Gottheil and Isaac Broyde 1901 1906 Carthagena Don Alfonso de In Singer Isidore et al eds The Jewish Encyclopedia New York Funk amp Wagnalls in Spanish L Fernandez Gallardo Alonso de Cartagena 1385 1456 una biografia politica en la Castilla del siglo XV Valladolid Consejeria de Educacion y Cultura 2002 in Spanish L Fernandez Gallardo Alonso de Cartagena iglesia politica y cultura en la Castilla del siglo XV Madrid 2003 Universidad Complutense de Madrid in German A Birkenmajer Der Streit des Alonso von Cartagena mit Leonardo Bruni Aretino en Clemens Baeumker ed Vermischte Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der mittelalterlichen Philosophie Munster 1922 pp 128 211 OCLC 1718905 in Spanish L Serrano Los conversos D Pablo de Santa Maria y D Alfonso de Cartagena obispos de Burgos gobernantes diplomaticos y escritores Madrid 1942 in Spanish F Cantera Burgos Alvar Garcia de Santa Maria y su familia de conversos Historia de la juderia de Burgos y sus conventos mas egregios Madrid CSIC Instituto Arias Montano 1952 N Fallows The Chivalric Vision of Alfonso de Cartagena Study and Edition of the Doctrinal de los Caualleros Newark DE Juan de la Cuesta Hispanic Monographs 1995 ISBN 0 936388 75 7 in Spanish M Penna Alfonso de Cartagena Prosistas espanoles del siglo XV Madrid Atlas BAE 1959 vol I pp xxxvii lxx OCLC 186400886 in Spanish M Morras Sic et non En torno a Alfonso de Cartagena y los studia humanitatis Euphorosyne 23 1995 pp 333 346 External links editProse in the age of Juan II Archived 2006 06 21 at the Wayback Machine in Spanish Alonso de Cartagena iglesia politica y cultura en la Castilla del siglo XV edicion digital de la obra Bio Bibliographical Guide to Medieval and Early Modern Jurists Alphonsus de CartagenaPreceded byPaul of Burgos Bishop of Burgos1435 1456 Succeeded byLuis de Acuna y Osorio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfonso de Cartagena amp oldid 1207269488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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