Bonsenyor, Judah

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BONSENYOR, JUDAH

BONSENYOR, JUDAH (or Jafuda; d. 1331), physician and Arabic interpreter for the Aragonese court. Judah's father, Astruc b. Judah Bonsenyor (d. 1280), had previously served in the same capacity, originally as assistant to Bahye Alconstantini. Judah accompanied Alfonso iii as Arabic interpreter during the expedition against Minorca in 1287. In 1294 James ii appointed him general secretary for Arabic documents and deeds drawn up in Barcelona. He was commissioned by James ii to compile an anthology of maxims from Latin, Arabic, and Hebrew sources and translate them into Catalan – the Llibre de paraules e dits de savis e filosofs. Judah also translated a medical treatise from the Arabic.

bibliography:

J. Bonsenyor, Llibre de paraules e dits de savis e filosofs, ed. by G. Llabrés y Quintana (1889), pref., 123–32 (documents); M. Kayserling, in: jqr, 8 (1895/96), 632–42; Cardoner Planas, in: Sefarad, 4 (1944), 287–93; Baer, Spain, 2 (1966), 6, 460 n.9 (bibliography).

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