Book of Fixed Stars of Alfonso the Wise

The Book of Fixed Stars of the Castilian King, Alfonso X, is a central work of European astronomy. It contains the ground-breaking Alfonsine Tables, produced at the behest of Alfonso X (1221–84) “the Wise”, renowned as a royal patron of the sciences (especially astronomy) in the late 13th century. The improvements to Ptolemaic Cosmology, established by Jewish scholars in Toledo, became widespread throughout Europe and were decisive up until the 16th century. The manuscript from the Berliner Kupferstichkabinett illustrated the astronomical charts with wonderful miniatures, which were presumably finished in Italy in the 14th century.

The Illustrated Edition of a Famous Astronomic Work

The comprehensive, 100-page manuscript is equipped with 50 extremely rich whole-page miniatures. Mysterious astronomical depictions, symbols of zodiac signs, animals, people, and mythical creatures illustrate the astronomical charts with calculations of their location in the sky. The explanatory miniatures are presented in bright colors, partly embellished with gold and silver, alongside the Latin text. The illuminated manuscript of the Alfonsine Tables from the Berliner Kupferstichkabinett offers the opportunity to delve into the birth of European astronomy, while at the same time enjoying miniatures of the highest quality.

Groundbreaking Work of European Astronomy

The basis of the manuscript was laid by Alfonso X, so named the Wise, King of Castile and Leon. Alfonso X was – as his byname betrays – well-known as a scientist. Thus he patronized many literary works, as well as composing poetic and scientific works himself. He founded a school for translation in Toledo, wherein texts from Arabic and Jewish scientists in Europe could be transcribed. The Castilian King is especially famous to this day as a patron of Astronomy. Between 1252 and 1270, he optimized the Ptolemaic Cosmology, which is known today as the Alfonso Tables. Ptolemaic Cosmology was made known to Alfonso X through Spain’s Moors. They are composed in a variety of tables for the calculation of the position of the Sun, Moon, and the five then-known Planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The state of this science of was improved upon through the sponsorship of the King. Thus, the Alfonsine Tables exhibit the special feature of being the very first European manuscript to mention the Andromeda-Galaxy, which was still unknown to Ptolemaic astronomy.

A Cross-Cultural Work

Alongside that, the charts were also influenced by al-Sufi (903–986) and his work The Book of Fixed Stars from ca. 964, which is the earliest illustrated book from the Islamic world. Two Jewish scholars from Toledo were responsible for the new Alfonsine Tables: Yehuda Den Mose and Isaac Ben Sid. Originally, the work was composed in Castilian, but a translation into Latin was made after that due to its grandiose reception in all of Europe. These charts were counted amongst the most influential astronomical works in Europe up to the 16th century. Testimony places this manuscript’s origins in 14th century Italy.