Martí de Riquer (1914-2013): Marqués de Casa Dávalos

Martí de Riquer (1914–2013), Marqués de Casa Dávalos, was a pioneering Catalan philologist and literary scholar whose extensive contributions reshaped the understanding of medieval Occitan literature and its influence on Golden Age Spanish literature. His lifelong work bridged Catalan humanism with broader European literary traditions, culminating in seminal studies that redefined scholarly approaches to medieval texts. Riquer's academic career, marked by resilience during the Spanish Civil War and a prolific output spanning seven decades, included groundbreaking publications like L’humanisme català (1934) and Para leer a Cervantes, which earned him Spain’s highest literary honors, including the Premio Príncipe de Asturias. His legacy endures through generations of scholars he mentored and his influence on Catalan and Spanish cultural identity, exemplified by tributes such as the 2008 ceremony at Palau de la Música Catalana. Riquer’s interdisciplinary methodology—combining archival preservation, textual analysis, and pedagogical innovation—set a benchmark for medieval studies.

Wilhite, V. (2015). Martí de Riquer (1914-2013): Marqués de Casa Dávalos. Tenso, 30(1-2), 233–241. https://doi.org/10.1353/ten.2015.0009