Abstract

FURTADO, Rodrigo. Isidore of Seville and Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada. Medievalista [online]. 2023, n.34, pp.253-287.  Epub Dec 31, 2023. ISSN 1646-740X.  https://doi.org/10.4000/medievalista.6944.

Isidore of Seville (c. 570-636) and Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada (1170-1247) mark the beginning and end point of a type of historiography in Iberia that is still very dependent on late antique models. Isidore’sChronicon(CPL 1205) andHistoriae(CPL 1204) were considered canonical models of what “writing history” should mean, forming the backbone of all major texts and compilations written in Iberia until the thirteenth century. In this paper, I analyze how Ximénez de Rada used Isidore’sHistoriaeat two levels: in structuring his own work and as a source. In terms of structure, I will show how theHistoriaewas the main model for Ximénez de Rada’s historiographical project. Concerning the use of Isidore’s text as a source, I will identify which versions of theHistoriaewere used by Ximénez de Rada, and analyze how, concretely, he adapted Isidore’s text. I will argue that Ximénez de Rada did not just copy theHistoriae, but took both Isidore’s structure and text, rethought them, and made a completely new work of his own.

Keywords : Isidore of Seville; Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada; medieval historiography; textual criticism; chronicles.

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