Having been one of the most colorful, powerful, and prolific poets and writers of his time, Don Juan Manuel (May 5, 1282-June 13, 1348) has attracted much interest by modern scholarship and also the general readership. Not only was he a great Spanish author, but he was also a high-ranking aristocrat, having been the nephew of King Alfonso X of Castile and son of Manuel of Castile (d. 1284) and his second wife, Beatrice of Savoy (d. 1294), daughter of Duke Amadeo IV. He was born in Escalona near Toledo and thus might have had enjoyed considerable contact with Jewish and Arabic intellectuals. Because of his inheritance, he was one of the wealthiest men in medieval Castile, although this did not make his life much easier considering the numerous conflicts which he experienced until his…
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Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Don Juan Manuel". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 August 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14760, accessed 23 November 2024.]
