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.