The Morgan Beatus: Apocalypse and Commentary, Part I

The Reconquest, according to Spanish tradition, began about 718, only seven years after the Muslim invasion. At that time, Pelayo, the son of a Visigothic duke, was elected king of Austurias and began harassing the Muslim occupied territories. A punitive expedition ended with the death of the Muslim general and the independence of Austurias. Frankish involvement during the eighth and early ninth centuries encouraged the development of the north Spanish kingdoms. Alfonso II (792-842) committed himself wholeheartedly to reconquering al-Andalus. His cousin Alfonso III (866-910) intensified this effort by claiming to be the legitimate heir to the old Visigothic kingdom and declaring that Austurias had an obligation to recover the lost territory. By 911 almost one-fifth of Spain had been retaken (fig.17). By this time prophecies on both sides of the border were predicting the fall of Cordoba to the Christians. By the reign of Ordono II (914-924) the resettlement of Leon was possible and a systematic occupation of the Duero valley was in full swing. The Duero valley, and other border regions like it, had been radically depopulated during the previous century. By the early 10th century border regions had become dangerous zones in which both sides held strongholds, peasants lived well off the main roads, and raiding parties and marauders could appear at any time. To secure this region it was necessary to occupy it with a stable population intent on defending it against invaders. The Christian kingdoms accomplished this occupation through the use of monastic foundations and settlement by land-hungry peasants. For the next 40 years the Reconquest continued to favor the Christian north but in 963 this changed. The Caliph al-Hakam had conquered his enemies elsewhere and turned his full military attention on the noisome northerners. The chief minister for his son, Muhammad ibn Abi Amir (al-Mansur), continued this policy. By 982 it seemed that al-Mansur was invincible. The monastery at Eslonza was sacked and in 997 al-Mansur destroyed the basilica at Santiago. The era of al-Mansur (d.1002) was a truly apocalyptic period. In this crisis, the words and illuminations of the Morgan Beatus were given new immediacy.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brenk, Beat, Tradition und Neuerung in der christlichen Kunst des ersten Jahrtausends:Studien zur Geschichte des Weltgerichtsbildes, Vienna: Hermann Boehlaus, 1966. Collins, Adela Yarbro, "The Apocalypse (Revelation)", New Jerome Biblical Commentary, Raymond E. Brown, et al, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990

Klein, Peter K., Trierer Apokalypse, Graz,

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