Cantiga 200 - Cantigas de Santa Maria Alfonso X el Sabio

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On November 23, 1221, a boy was born who would become Alfonso X, King of Castile and León.

Even his political enemies couldn’t tarnish his legacy of intellectual curiosity and cultural open-mindedness.

Happy eight-hundredth birthday to the Wise King!

In honor of this extraordinary occasion, I'm sharing my version of one of the most autobiographical Cantigas de Santa Maria. It's just little old me, unaccompanied. Please forgive any errors and hear the passion with which it's sung.

In Cantiga 200, Alfonso X himself uses the form of praise to present an autobiographical sketch of sorts. It's general, but it's told from an emotional point of view, unlike other, more specific such stories.

Cantiga 200
Refrain: I've praised, I praise, and I will keep praising St. Mary.

Because among all the most honored men alive today, she's shown me the most blessings, as I will recount.

She made me descend from good people and wanted me to fully rein and be king.

And with her mercies, she aided me in grave illnesses. Therefore, you must know that I will serve her.

And to those who wished me ill and conspired and plotted against me, she gave them what they deserved, as I will prove.

She pulled me out of great poverty and gave me riches, and so I will tell all her noble qualities I can.

She who doesn't err and never erred made me the lord of a great land and helped me in every war when I called on her.

She delivered me from misfortune, death, and injury. So, know, good people, that I will die for her.

So everyone help me pray with good will for her to help me, since I have need.

And whenever she desires, that she will take me from the tumult of this world, and that I will see her whom I've always loved.

***

Perhaps the greatest present we can give Alfonso X on his birthday is the feat of remembering him 800 years later.

This is the main goal of Our Lady's Troubadour. https://www.jessicaknauss.com/our-ladys-troubadour/