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 kill...

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 captu...

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 reca...

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 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:...

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 J...

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/...

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 fro...

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...

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...

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,...

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: con...

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 alja...

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 prop...

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 Fr...

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 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: A...

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: Apri...

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 Documen...

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 Languag...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan notified a judge in Zaragoza that a case involving members of the Jewish aljama had been transferred to him. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e112-apr15 Today's Document: Subject: a court case involving members of the Jewish aljama in Zaragoza Date: April...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan mansplained legal matters to the Governor of Valencia and instructed him to apprehend Berenguer de Vilaragut for various crimes including lèse-majesté . Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e111-apr14 Today's Document: Subject: chasing after the wily Berengue...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant followed up on a letter of recommendation sent a while ago by Joan. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e110-apr13 Today's Document: Subject: holding a Hospitaller commander responsible for following Joan’s recommendation Date: April 13, 1387 Day of the W...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan informed the King of Castile, his 'rey muy caro hermano,' that he needs the knight Galceran de Vilanova to leave Castile and go to help fight a rebellion in Sardinia. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e109-apr12 Today's Document: Subject: the recall of the...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote directly to the captains of a band of mercenaries, telling them to not journey through the territory of the Crown of Aragon. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan's website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e108-apr11 Today's Document: Subject: prohibiting the entrance into the Crown of Aragon...