«Et tot açò vehia l’emperador de son palau»: Muntaner and the arrival of the Almugavars at Constantinople (an analysis of chapter 202 of the Crònica)

Abstract

This article analyses chapter 202 of Ramon Muntaner's Chronicle, devoted to the arrival of the Catalan Company at Constantinople in September 1303 and the bloody clash that shortly after broke out between Catalans and Genoese in the outskirts of the city. On the one hand, it examines Muntaner’s depiction of the events in the light of the version found in George Pachymeres’ History, thus adopting a comparative approach from which emerges the fact that the Catalan chronicler deliberately silences the most controversial aspects of these historical episodes. On the other hand, it identifies the main narrative devices upon which Muntaner relies to craft his account, which seem to be reminiscent of literary motifs present in the roman courtois tradition.