History and Stories of Love and Conversion in Fourteenth-Century Burgos

A new figurative version of the story of Fleur and Blanchefleur, carved in the corbels of the chapel of Santa Catalina in Burgos Cathedral, has been identified as a unique blend of chronicle and courtly hagiography. This visual narrative, intended to articulate Castilian national identity and reinforce the identity of the urban oligarchy, presents an ancient Muslim Castile converted to Christianity through love. The study analyzes this version alongside its literary counterpart, the late thirteenth-century interpolation in the Cronica fragmentaria, demonstrating its generic flexibility and cultural significance. The research employs a comparative approach, examining both literary and visual elements to shed light on the historical and social context of fourteenth-century Burgos.

Ameijeiras, R. S. (2012). History and Stories of Love and Conversion in Fourteenth-Century Burgos. Hispanic Research Journal, 13(5), 449–467. https://doi.org/10.1179/1468273712z.00000000028