The only Beatus manuscript that was not created in a monastery but at the royal court: a work by the scribe Facundus for King Ferdinand I and his wife
Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
León (Spain) — Circa 1047

Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
León (Spain) — Circa 1047
Made ca. 1047 by the scribe Facundus for King Ferdinand I (ca. 1015–1065) the Great and his wife Queen Sancha
One of the most beautiful illuminated Beatus manuscripts has 114 enthralling miniatures
The only Beatus manuscript that was not made in a monastery, but rather at a royal court

Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
Christ, Alpha and Omega
Standing within an Alpha initial consisting of splendid Insular interlace with animal heads incorporated into the feet, Christ is standing holding an Omega initial in one hand and making the sign of benediction in the other. This is a fine example of the increasing influence of Romanesque art in Beatus manuscripts, combining this new international style with distinctly Hiberno-Mozarabic elements, such as the unique color palette – nowhere else does one see Christ dressed in red and black.
Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
- Beato de Liébana, códice de Fernando I y doña Sancha
- Beatus von Ferdinand I. und Doña Sancha
- Beato di Ferdinando I e Donna Sancha
- Beato de Fernando I e Dona Sancha
- Béatus de Ferdinand I
- Beato de Facundo
Short Description
The codex of King Ferdinand I and his wife Sancha is one of the most beautiful and magnificent works of the Beatus Apocalypses. It was made ca. 1047 by the scribe Facundus and is found today in the Spanish National Library. The thrilling miniatures of the codex are counted among the most beautiful illustrations of Spanish book art.
Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
The Revelation of John, which is also known as the Apocalypse, is the last book of the New Testament. The story of the end of the world, of the Day of Judgement, of the descent into hell of all the sinners, has evoked great fascination from Christians of all lands for centuries. A Spanish monk by the name of Beatus composed a commentary about this book in the Bible, which has been repeatedly reproduced over several centuries. The codex of the Spanish King Ferdinand I and his wife Sancha is one of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts of the Beatus series. The work, comprising nearly 630 pages, is adorned with 114 enthralling miniatures in excitingly luminous colors.
Who was Beatus?
Beatus of Liébana was a monk and theologian, who belonged to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in Spain. The monk is famous above all for his magnum opus, a commentary on the biblical Apocalypse in twelve books. These twelve books originate from ca. 776 and are known today as the Beatus-Series. The twelve books were adapted into countless manuscripts, many of which survive to this day. The majority of Beatus manuscripts originate from between the 10th and 12th centuries in northern Spain. The royal codex was manufactured for Ferdinand I and his wife Sancha ca. 1047.
A Royal Masterpiece
Ferdinand I, the Great, was King of León, Castile, and Galicia from 1035 to 1065. He contributed decisively to the ascension of the Kingdom of León-Castile to the predominant power among the Christian kingdoms of Spain. King Ferdinand and Queen Sancha gave the scribe Facundus the commission to create a worthy manuscript of the Beatus Apocalypse. This book is the only one in the series that was not made in a monastery, but rather at a royal court. The valuable manuscript named by the famous author Umberto Eco as an important source of inspiration for his worldwide best-seller “The Name of the Rose”. Today it is found in the Spanish National Library.
The Most Famous Beatus Codex
The Beatus by Fecundus is often called the most magnificent of all the Beatus-codices. The travelling, dreamlike pictorial composition of the work remains forever unforgettable for each beholder. Each of the elegant miniatures shows an astounding variety of luminous, lively colors. No other Beatus-codex can come up with similarly atmospheric images. All in all, this splendid manuscript is one of the most valuable works of Spanish book art.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Beato de Liébana, códice de Fernando I y doña Sancha
Beatus von Ferdinand I. und Doña Sancha
Beato di Ferdinando I e Donna Sancha
Beato de Fernando I e Dona Sancha
Béatus de Ferdinand I
Beato de Facundo - Size / Format
- 624 pages / 36.0 x 26.8 cm
- Origin
- León (Spain)
- Date
- Circa 1047
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 114 miniatures
- Artist / School
- Author: Beatus of Liébana (died after 798)
Miniaturist: Facundus scripsit - Previous Owners
- Philip V (1683–1746), King of Spain

Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex
Vision of the Lamb on Mt. Sion
The miniatures of this manuscript are distinguished by their dark, rich color palette. The Lamb of God stands atop a purple Mt. Sion (Zion) and is accompanied by the 144,000 of the faithful who bear the name of the lamb and God upon their foreheads. They sing a song before the throne that only the faithful can know.
Although the text says that they are playing harps, the 11th century artists depict them playing something like a lute, or some other Spanish stringed instrument. The four living creatures, who appear like angels with animal heads, and numerous elders are separated from the faithful by a band of stars. They proclaim the Gospel, which they hold in their hands and is depicted in gold leaf.
2 available facsimile edition(s) of „Beatus of Liébana - Facundus Codex“
Beato de Liébana, códice de Fernando I y doña Sancha
- Publisher
- Club Bibliófilo Versol – Madrid
- Limited Edition
- 940 copies
- Binding
- Brown leather with two clasps
- Commentary
- 1 volumeLanguage: Spanish
- More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Beato de Liébana, códice de Fernando I y doña Sancha
- Publisher
- M. Moleiro Editor – Barcelona, 1994
- Limited Edition
- 777 copies
- Binding
- Tanned leather with two clasps
- Commentary
-
1 volume (312 pages) by John Williams, Joaquín González Echegaray, Manuel Sánchez Mariana, Joaquín Yarza Luaces and Joaquín Yarza Luaces
Language: Spanish - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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