Shaping a European scientific scene:
Alfonsine astronomy

The ERC-funded ALFA Project has constructed a comprehensive database that documents the sources associated with Alfonsine astronomy from its origins in the late thirteenth century at the scriptorium of Alfonso X, King of Castile and León (r. 1252–1284), through to the sixteenth century, by which time Ptolemaic tabular and geometrical models had largely ceased to dominate astronomical discourse.

This database addresses a critical gap in the historiography of medieval and Renaissance astronomy, providing researchers with an accessible, rigorously compiled resource for the study of this influential tradition. The ALFA team has surveyed over 1,000 manuscripts and approximately 130 early printed editions, identifying 334 distinct works by 114 authors, all produced within the broad framework of Alfonsine astronomy—that is, texts employing the models and parameters of the Alfonsine Tables. To maintain a focus on Alfonsine sources, the database excludes works by astronomers from other traditions, such as Levi ben Gerson and Jacob ben David Bonjorn, despite their historical significance and broad dissemination.

The creation of this database is a result of six years of collaborative effort involving most of the 12-15 scholars affiliated with the ALFA project, as well as librarians worldwide who have generously provided access to materials and information crucial for identifying and cataloging the relevant works. The data have been compiled through direct examination of manuscripts, where possible, and increasingly through the use of high-quality digital facsimiles available in the public domain. In cases where neither direct nor digital access was possible, we relied on extant library catalogs. The database also integrates insights from recent scholarship on individual authors, works, locations, and topics pertinent to Alfonsine astronomy.

The database interface is structured into three interconnected tabs. The third tab catalogs individual works, with each entry detailing the title, author, type of work (e.g., tables, canons, instrumental items, theoretical texts), incipit (for textual works), and, where available, the date and place of composition. It also provides a list of manuscripts and early printed editions containing the work, complete with folio or page references and links to digital versions, if accessible. The first and second tabs are dedicated to manuscripts and early printed editions, respectively. Entries for manuscripts include the shelfmark, the hosting library, the date and place of production (when known), links to relevant catalogs or digitized versions, and, most importantly, a detailed inventory of Alfonsine works contained within each manuscript, along with precise folio or page references. Similarly, entries for early printed editions supply bibliographic information, including the title, date, place of publication, and printer, as well as links to catalog records or digital copies. These entries also include an itemized list of Alfonsine works present in each volume. Each piece of information is accompanied by an icon that identifies the source type, indicating whether the data was obtained through direct physical examination of the document, accessed via a digital surrogate, or drawn from secondary literature.

Navigation within these data is facilitated by hyperlinks, filters, and search options. Hyperlinks enable users to move seamlessly between the primary source registers and the compendium of works, and provide direct access to digital copies of manuscripts or links to library catalogs for additional details. For each major entry, a “message” icon allows users to contact the database’s scientific committee to suggest modifications or corrections. Within each register, users can control how the information is displayed by using the “column visibility” option. Lists of search results can be independently sorted and filtered according to each category of information. A fuzzy search field enables users to quickly locate specific entries. Each search result is assigned a unique URL, facilitating accurate citation in scholarly publications. Search results, as well as the full database, can be easily exported in various formats. Additionally, an advanced option enables developers, interested in accessing the database through an API, to contact us directly.

This database stands as a testament to sustained scholarly collaboration. It offers an expanded and more nuanced understanding of the Alfonsine tradition and opens new pathways for research. It highlights the complex preservation processes that shape the corpus of medieval manuscripts accessible to historians today. Even a preliminary exploration of its contents yields quantitatively grounded insights into the evolution of Alfonsine astronomy and the transformative impact of the advent of printing on its dissemination.

Acknowledgments

We extend our gratitude to the ALFA team members, and more specifically to José Chabás, Alena Hadravová, Richard Kremer, Marie-Madeleine Saby, and Matthieu Husson who have meticulously curated the data and will continue to serve as the scientific committee overseeing the database’s ongoing development. Special thanks are due to Noémie Bréchot, Soline Doat, and Doriane Hare, whose contributions ensured the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the records, as well as to Galla Topalian, Ségolène Albouy, and Clara Grometto for their work on the design and implementation of the data model and user interface for the database.