The Historian's Notebook

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan appointed several people to the Inquisition of Girona. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e32-jan25 Today's Document: - Subject: Inquisition appointments - Date: January 25, 1387 - Day of the Week: Friday - Language: Latin - Archival Reference Number: ACA...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant recommended Johan Fernando Aranda, a bachelor of law, for an ecclesiastical post in Barcelona. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e31-jan24 Today's Document: - Subject: Violant's recommends Aranda for an ecclesiastical post - Date: January 24, 1387 - Da...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan collected a fine that he imposed on the Muslims of Fraga for an outbreak of violence against the Jews of that city. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e30-jan23 Today's Document: - Subject: Collection of a fine from the Muslim aljama of Fraga - Date: Janua...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant informed communities in her portfolio that they will need to pay some additional taxes. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/ Today's Document: Subject: Tax collection Date: January 22, 1387 Day of the Week: Tuesday Language: Catalan Archival Reference Nu...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant's treasurer authorized a payment to Jacques and Isabel Portalbert, a husband-and-wife troubadour team. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e28-jan21 Today's Document: Subject: record of payments to the Portalberts Date: January 21, 1387 Day of the Week:...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant sent an upbeat greeting to the new King of Navarre, a person with whom Violant shared an interesting history. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/ Today's Document: Subject: Violant sends a greeting to the King of Navarre Date: January 20, 1387 Day of th...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan added his input to a business problem encountered by a group in Montblanc which included Joan’s brother, Martí. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e26-jan19 Today's Document: Subject: a business deal in Montblanc Date: January 19, 1387 Day of the Week: Sat...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to the officials of Cervera to provide protection for the chief chaplain of the archbishop of Zaragoza, Pedro de Guardia. This episode also gets into the topic of mail delivery, levels of seals, and the organization of the Archive of the Crown of Aragon. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfr...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to Violant about a petition from some Barcelona city councilors to revoke a recent election. This episode also examines how historians write about gender. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e24-jan17 Today's Document: Subject: Joan informs Violant of...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, on the day of the big meeting to organize the new government, Violant wrote to the Bishop of Granollers. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e23-jan16 Today's Document: Subject: Violant supports the pilgrimage of Friar Petrus Date: January 16, 1387 Day of the We...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan ordered a payment to a harp-maker for at least two custom-made harps. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e22-jan15 Today's Document: Subject: Joan arranges payments for custom-made harps Date: January 15, 1387 Day of the Week: Tuesday Language: Latin Archi...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan issued an approval for a sale taking place in Girona. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e21-jan14 Today's Document: Subject: Joan approves a sale in Girona Date: January 14, 1387 Day of the Week: Monday Language: Catalan Archival Reference Number: ACA CR...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to the Pope that some difficulties, arduis urgentibus , have occurred in the succession process. Also, at the beginning of this episode, I do a little check-in to share a bit about the project overall and how my interest in it got started. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/hist...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan summoned Esperandeu Cardona, an advisor closely connected to the Jewish community of Barcelona, to come to Granollers. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e19-jan12 Today's Document: Subject: Summons to a Jewish advisor to come to Granollers Date: January 1...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to the monastery and convent at Montserrat. Is it a routine recommendation letter or the installation of an agent who will report back? This episode also includes discussion of how to apply critical thinking to AI chatbot results. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-noteb...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, King Pere's body was interred in the royal crypt. This document records the death of Pere the Ceremonious in a manner of certification at the end of a treasury record book. The episode relates a few notable events from the life of King Pere, who reigned from 1336-1387. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathans...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to Maria de Luna, her sister-in-law, Martí’s wife, asking Maria to come to Barcelona as soon as possible. This episode showcases Maria de Luna as a political powerhouse in the Crown of Aragon. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e15-jan8 Today's Do...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant established contact with the Crown's officials in Majorca. This episode provides a lot of background information about the history of the Crown of Aragon and also explains a little about the development of the Catalan language. The document itself is about Majorca, but that island's incorporation into the Crown of Aragon in the thirteenth century is j...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Violant wrote to Martí, telling him to put prisoners from Sibilla’s surrender in the castle of Santa Creu , but not in chains. This episode also explains into how contemporary scholars in queenship studies conceptualize power. 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, Violant moved to organize plans for succession. January 6th is a day of transition of power in the Crown of Aragon in 1387. The king is dead. But in the absence of the new king, the queen must set the foundations of the new reign. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-epis...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan ruled on a dispute over a dowry. This episode spends a lot of time on the materiality of the archival documents themselves and the experience of the Archive of the Crown of Aragon. Also, though, the episode provides introductory information about Marie A. Kelleher's scholarship on the way that women navigated and operationalized the legal system in the C...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to his brother, Marti, who is in pursuit of Queen Sibilla. Today's document provides some hints about the flurry of communication happening. Also, the first signs of Joan's illness start to appear as he tells his brother that he will spend an extra night in Bella Dona. Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https:...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan informed the Barcelona city councilors that he would arrive there soon. It is a promise that he will not be able to keep... Read more about this document on the episode page on Jonathan' s website, https://jonathanseyfried.net/historians-notebook-s1-episodes/e10-jan3 Today's Document: Subject: Joan’s communication with the leadership of Barcelona about P...

Warning: today's episode is about sexual assault. In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to the Duc de Berry about the students who got into trouble in Montpellier. He provides details that were not at all present in Violant's letter of December 25th. Those details make it clear that the students committed a rape. This episode, while dealing with a difficult topic, provides a powerful e...

In the Crown of Aragon, 639 years ago, Joan wrote to Marti about their father's books and astronomical instruments. In a move that appears rather vulturous, Joan asks his brother to secure some of their dying father’s precious possessions. In this episode Jonathan also discusses Catalan humanism and introduces Joan and Violant's cultural contributions. Read more about this document on the episode...