Diogo J . C . Gomes

Images and Memories of a Common War: the Battles of 1383-1385 in the Chronicles of Pero López de Ayala and Fernão Lopes

In 1383, with the death of Fernando I of Portugal, a dramatic dispute for the kingdom’s government began between Juan I of Castile and the master of Avis. Throughout this conflict, which officially lasted until 1431, the kingdoms of Portugal and Castile went through some periods of intense military activity, mainly during the so-called Crisis of 1383-1385. During this period – in which we also witness the siege of Lisbon, in 1384, and the acclamation of the Master as João I of Portugal, in 1385 –, four open field battles occur. Rare moments in the military campaigns of the Middle Ages, but ideologically relevant and often decisive, open field battles have always been of particular interest and importance for medieval historiography.

This was precisely what happened at the end of the 14th century and in the middle of the 15th, when two chronicles, by Pero López de Ayala and Fernão Lopes, appear in the Castilian and Portuguese courts, dedicating particular attention to the military confrontations between 1383 and 1385. Written inside the political spheres involved in the dispute, these important agents of legitimation would not fail to be committed with the propagandistic aims of the dynasties they served. Highlighting the positive and negative features of certain characters and elements of the conflict, these chronicles would present, more than factual events, perspectives more or less plausible of those same events.

Therefore, based on these two chronicles, this study seeks to examine two different perspectives about the battles of Atoleiros (April 1384), Trancoso (May 1385), Aljubarrota (August 1385), and Valverde (October 1385). Through a comparative study
of two sources produced by opposing sides, it searches for divergences and convergences on the narrative of war. More than the events, this study tries to address the way each chronicle, as a registry of one of the parties involved in the four battles, conveys the moments that compose, precede and succeed them, and therefore how each one builds its memory of a common war.

An article (written in Portuguese only) about the failed portuguese military expedition to the Cebu river (Morocco) in 1515. Published in the E-cyclopaedia of Portuguese Expansion [http://eve.fcsh.unl.pt],  by the Centre for Humanities (CHAM-NOVA FCSH-UAç).

This article tried to analyse the legislation of these two kings and kingdoms, first separately, then comparatively, to find similarities between both bodies of law, so as to question whether they represented or not a type of strategy common to both 13th century kings: affirm personal power and/or keep their subjects contented.

In 1383, with the death of Fernando I of Portugal (1367-1383), a dramatic dispute for the kingdom’s government began, between Juan I of Castile (1379-1390) and the future João I of Portugal (1385-1431). During the conflict’s most intense period of military activity, the so-called Crisis of 1383-1385, four open field battles occurred. Rare moments in the medieval campaigns, but ideologically relevant and often decisive, open field battles have always been of particular interest and importance for medieval historiography.
The battle of Trancoso, one of the aforementioned four, fought on May 29 1385, was no exception, and, at the end of the 14th and middle of the 15th century, the chronicles of Pero López de Ayala and Fernão Lopes gave it particular attention among the military confrontations of the aforesaid conflict. Written within the political spheres involved in the dispute, these important agents of legitimation would not fail to be committed to their propagandistic aims, highlighting the positive and minimizing the negative, presenting thus, more than a factual event, perspectives more or less plausible of that same event.
Therefore, focusing on these two chronicles, and through a comparative study, we propose to analyse their different perspectives about the clash that took place near the town of Trancoso, in the context of the Castilian monarch’s strategy for 1385. More than the event, we want to address the way each narrative frames the preparation for and the course of the campaign, the different phases of the battle in itself, and the moments surrounding it, including the sieges of Elvas and Mértola. We search for the divergences and convergences between the narratives, the manner in which each narrator builds his memory of a common war, and the way these two important sources place Trancoso as an important step to the outcome of the conflict.

In a period marred by strong political convulsions in Western Medieval Europe, and in England in particular, it makes sense to examine the writings of one of the most relevant theologians and political philosophers of the 14th century, as he scrutinizes the notions of rulership. Indeed, mirroring other philosophers of his time, John Wyclif (c.1328-1384), would, in the last quarter of the 14th century, write two political treatises, the De Civili Dominio and the De Officio Regis. These works verse precisely on the notions of dominion and duties of the English governing institutions, addressing the concepts of king and regal power, of justice and society, and their consequences in rulership itself.
Through a comparative study of partial translations of Wyclif’s works, who, under the protection of the regent John of Gaunt exercised a great influence at the English court – and by emphasizing his ideal model on the aforementioned notions – we gather important elements of the political debate occurring at the end of the Middle Ages in Western Christianity. Thus, we propose to analyze Wyclif’s concepts of authority and the organization of a tripartite society under the king, the placement of war in that same society, the relations between temporal and spiritual power, his take on the concept of justice and legitimacy, focusing on its definition as an extension of God’s own power and authority, versing on his distinction of the king as both institution and individual, and how Wyclif’s doctrines should be regarded in light of the 1381 Peasant’s Revolution.