Beatus of Liébana - San Millán Codex

Beatus of Liébana - San Millán Codex

This is a fascinating specimen from the grand tradition of so-called Beatus manuscripts. Saint Beatus of Liébana (c. 730 – c. 800) wrote an authoritative commentary on the Book of Revelation, which was divided into 12 books. It originates from a time when most of the Iberian Peninsula had been overrun by the Moors. Only the Kingdom of Asturias, protected by the Cantabrian Mountains, stood against the Muslim invasion. It was in this precarious situation that Beatus wrote his commentary, and in which its meaning changed. The beast, once representing the Roman Empire, was now replaced by the Muslim Caliphate, and Babylon was no longer Rome, but Córdoba instead. That being said, most of his commentary is actually critical of other Christians, who put their own interests before the will of God, and Muslims are only mentioned in passing. The San Millán Codex also includes the prologue of the Apocalypse that was written by Saint Jerome (347–420), his commentary on the Book of Daniel, and extracts of the Etymologiae by Saint Isidore of Seville (ca. 560–636). 49 full-page miniatures adorn the extensive text, which comprises more than 560 pages. This manuscript represents one of the most complete surviving copies of the famous commentary.

Who Was Beatus?

Beatus of Liébana was a monk, theologian, and member of 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. It originates from ca. 776 and are known today as the Beatus-Series. These twelve books were adapted into countless manuscripts, many of which survive to this day. They are regarded as some of the finest examples of Mozarabic illumination, and were influenced by Moorish art, despite the antagonistic relationship between the two peoples. The majority of Beatus manuscripts originate from between the 10th and 11th centuries in northern Spain. The San Millán Codex was produced during the heyday of Beatus manuscript production.

Mozarabic Art meets the Romanesque

The manuscript at hand was produced in two phases, the first originated at the end of the 10th century in the province of León, and contains the majority of the text and most of the miniatures. These are rendered in the Mozarabic style. The second part originated from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, after which it is named, probably at the end of the 11th century. One new miniature was added, the preexisting miniatures received additional color, and this second phase shows influences of the Romanesque style. Thus, the manuscript is of great interest to theologians and art historians alike.