La Carta del Preste Juan de las Indias. Un ejemplo de la superación de las fronteras culturales y del interés europeo por el mundo maravilloso de Oriente

Abstract

This work deals with the Latin text entitled Epistola presbiteri Johannis, written between 1150 and 1160 and erroneously attributed to the mythical Prester John, a king and priest of the Three Indias who allegedly would have sent this letter to the Byzantine Manuel Comnenus and the Westerner Frederick Barbarossa. Although the epistle authorship has been proved a fake, from the 12th to the 15th centuries not only its veracity but that of Prester John as a real character were well taken for granted. This work analyzes his historical and literary profile and tries to approach the possible messages that the text conveyed at the time. In so doing, the most representative editions of the Latin text, as well as its translations, adaptations and rewritings will be taken into account.