Francesc Eiximenis
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Francesc Eiximenis (1340?-1409?, sometimes known as Francesc Examenis) was a Franciscan priest, encyclopedist and writer.
Eiximenis entered the order of Friars Minor at Barcelona sometime before 1351, when he was ordained subdeacon, but his first recommendable literary works were produced much later. He dedicated his works to nobles such as Pere d'Artès and he was asked by the jurats of Valencia city to write a treatise on the Regiment de la cosa pública, which was affixed to a table in the Town Hall after its completion. Most of his works, including Christian encyclopedia Lo Crestià, were copied and translated into several languages. However his activities were not entirely literary, as it can be seen from the fact he participated actively in political events after having moved from Barcelona to Valencia. The Dominican Vicenç Ferrer, later canonized, was a contemporary rival of Eiximenis.
It has been claimed Eiximenis had Jewish ancestry, although no evidence to support this theory exists except for the fact that he knew Hebrew. Eiximenis was sent to examine the Hebrew works in the Jewish quarters in the late 14th century to attest to their acceptability.
He spent most of his life in Valencia and the Valencian Country. There he finished "Lo Crestià". The first book, "Primer", was written in Barcelona. And the other extant books ("Segon", "Terç", "Dotzè") where finished in Valencia. His life there was full of activity: He preached a crusade, assessed the city counselors (the "jurats"), founded a convent ("Sant Esperit", near the village of Gilet), and he wrote his major works in Catalan language even though there are some works in Latin which are remarkable. After this life full of activity, his last years were devoted to spiritual matters. This tendency appears already in the Llibre de les Dones ("Book of Women"). In spite of its title, the book is a condensed treatise of the Catholic faith. The Llibre dels Àngels (Book of Angels) is a unique treatise about angels and angelology. During this time he also wrote the "Pastorale" in Latin . This book was addressed to the Bishop of Valencia, Hug de Llupià, and it is a book that explains the duties of the good bishop according to saint Gregory's "Pastorale". he also wrote a "Vida de Jesucrist" (Life of Jesus Christ or "Vita Christi" in Latin). This was his last work and one of his masterpieces. This work followed the well-established genre of the "Life of Jesus Christ" by other mystic and Franciscan writers, such as Ludolf of Saxony or Ubertino de Casale. It is a book that combines theological content with a popular style. The last part of the book sums up Eiximenis' eschatological thinking.
One year before his death, Eiximenis became bishop of Elna (in the Roussillon, today in France but in that time inside the Kingdom of Catalonia-Aragon). He died in Perpinyà.
[edit] References
- Burns, Robert I., ed., Worlds of Alfonso the Learned and James the Conqueror: Intellect and Force in the Middle Ages, Princeton University Press, 1985.
