Historia Compostelana

The anonymous Historia Compostelana is based on the relation of events by a writer in the immediate circle of Diego Gelmírez,[1] second bishop (1100–1120) then first archbishop (1120–1140) of Compostela, one of the major figures of the Middle Ages in Galicia.[2] The narrative of the Historia Compostelana spans the years 1100 – 1139, the years of Gelmírez' tenure, in three books. Its twofold central agenda is to extol the Archbishop's doings, while establishing the foundation and rights of Santiago de Compostela, including its founding legend, which provided apostolic connections with Saint James the Great. The bishopric had been transferred from Iria Flavia to Compostela as recently as 1095.

"Aragonese deliver the castle to the queen. Oh!!, How much military glory gave to Galicians that day when the Aragonese king escaped in front of them!. But much was more excellent and cheerful when the brave forces of Galicia protected Castile and its knights from attack by enemies and forced to take back the Castle occupied by the Aragonese. Oh shame!!, the Castilians need foreign forces and are protected by the audacity of the Galicians!. What will happen with these cowardly knights when the Galicia's armies -their shield and protection- leave?."

Historia Compostellana, Book I, Chapter 90

From a Galician perspective the Historia recounts the reigns of the contemporary sovereigns of Castile: Alfonso VI (until 1109), Urraca (1109–1126) and Alfonso VII (from 1126). "A very complex work of multiple authorship, it must be used with care, for it is essentially an episcopal gesta of Diego Gelmírez, bishop and then archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, and very partisan in its commentary," is the assessment of the major historian of this period, Bernard F. Reilly.[3]

In the context of Hispanic historiography in Latin it is unique for narrating contemporary events, utilizing documents inserted in the text, giving it great historical value.

Its title in Latin is De rebus gestis D. Didaci Gelmirez, primi Compostellani Archiepiscopi but it has been known simply as the Historia Compostelana since the 18th century.[4]

Notes
  1. A.G. Biggs, Diego Gelmírez: first archbishop of Compostela Catholic Universities of America Press), 1949.
  2. B.F. Reilly, "The Historia Compostelana: The Genesis and Composition of a Twelfth-Century Spanish Gesta" Speculum: A Journal of Mediaeval Studies, 1969.
  3. Bernard F. Reilly, "The Kingdom of León-Castilla under Queen Urraca"
  4. The manuscript transmission: B.F. Reilly, "Existing Manuscripts of the Historia Compostelana: Notes toward a Critical Edition," Manuscripta, 15 (1971), 131-152; D. MacKenzie, "A Manuscript of the Historia Compostelana," Manuscripta 18 (1974), 173-174.

Further reading
  • Reilly, Bernard F. "The 'Historia Compostelana: The Genesis and Composition of a Twelfth-Century Spanish 'Gesta," in Speculum 44 (1969): pp 78–85
  • Vones,Ludwig, Die 'Historia Compostelana und die Kirchenpolitik des nordwestspanischen Raumes (Cologne, 1980)
  • Falque, Emma, "The Manuscript Transmission of the 'Historia Compostellana," in Manuscripta (1985): pp 80–90
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