GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives

Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2002-05 > 1022003553


From: "Manoel Cesar Furtado" <>
Subject: Re: Pelayo´s_uncle?
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 14:52:50 -0300
References: <20020518192517.89800.qmail@web20108.mail.yahoo.com>, <001301c1fec0$9dbefd00$896afea9@w9k8p8> <a9b2ce02.0205200531.77a6b421@posting.google.com>


Bryant Smith wrote:

> (2) I read below for the first time the suggestion that the Rotense
> was a "clerical" work. Although flimsy, the reference to the
> settlement of Viseo and its suburbs "by our order" has been cited
> to suggest the author was indeed Alfonso III himself. Maria Emma
> Escobar´s characterizaton of the Rotense as "horrible latin" casts
> further doubt on any suggestion that the author was a cleric.
>

It is plain to see the ecclesiastical inspiration thoughout the text. The
essencial models are biblical: I Samuel 3.4, Mathew 13.31, the legend of
Saints Cosme and Damian, the ancient shrine of Covadonga, etc.
Besides, there was no "historian" outside the clergy in those iberian times.
And the historical reports are basically a "religious media". The "victory"
of Pelayo was an insignificant event in an insignificant place. Even the
visigothic conquerors have left the asturians aside. So after 150 years the
time was ripe for a "great" history. And only the church knew how to do it
in the benefit of its religious and political purpose.


> By the way, just curious, my Portuguese isn´t all that swift,
> does your valediction "Um abraço" mean "a hug?" I´ve seen it used
> by others too -- is it a standard form?

Yes, a friendly standard form among portuguese descendants of genealogical
lists. But I am also using it here as an advanced apology and warning for my
eventual errors in english language :)

Um abraço,
Manoel Cesar Furtado

This thread: