Nuns Signatures and Literacy in late Carolingian Catalonia

Nuns, Signatures and Literacy in late. Carolingian Catalonia Jonathan Jarrett Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

“Emma de Barcelona, primera abadessa de Sant Joan, governà durant quarantaquatre anys (898 -942), amb virtut i seny preclars aquest monestir que havia fundat el seu pare, el comte Guifré el Pelós, edifice temples, repoblà terres, construí Catalunya. Les seves despulles son soterrades en un indret desconegut d’aquesta església. ” (Emma of Barcelona, first Abbess of Sant Joan, governed forty-four years (898 -942), with pre-eminent virtue and prudence, this monastery that her father, Count Guifré the Hairy, founded; she built churches, repopulated the land, built Catalonia. Her remains are buried in an unknown part of this church. )

Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó, Cancilleria, Pergamins Seniofredo 39

Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó, Cancilleria, Pergamins Seniofredo 51

Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó, Cancilleria, Pergamins Seniofredo 39

Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó, Cancilleria, Pergamins Vifredo I, 8

Name Early appearances 949? Autograph? 964? Later appearances Notes Emma 156 total No - No No First abbess Richeldes oblation 900 YES Uncertain No As discussed Elo oblation 926 YES Uncertain No As discussed ? No No No Second abbess Chindiberga No YES No No Hand cf. Guilladus? Elo No YES Uncertain As discussed, perhaps the last nun (Ermessinda) Belluça No YES YES Not deo vota; father castellan for the abbey, holds land from Count Bernat Tallaferro too Emma No YES No No Hand cf. Martinus Aldena No YES No Carissima No YES YES No Donates psalter 960; hand cf. Gentiles Adelaide YES (as countess) No No Third abbess; donates (as countess) 950 Ranló YES (as private person) No No Fourth abbess (Riquilda) Enquília No No No YES No Daughter of countess Fredeburga No No No YES No Fifth abbess Bero No No No YES No Sesnanda Llobeta No No No YES Garsenda No No No YES No Gualatrudes No No No YES No Guinedildes No No No YES As discussed Femina appelata No No Uncertain Oblated 966 Ingilberga No No YES Sixth abbess, oblated 987 Emma No No YES Oblated 1005 Ledgarda No No YES Donates 1011 Family hold lands very nearby, which they pledge to Bernat Tallaferro

The current abbey church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses (c. 1430) Signatures of the nuns of Sant Joan de Ripoll (898 & 949)

Nuns, Signatures and Literacy in late. Carolingian Catalonia Jonathan Jarrett