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n 1344 Peter IV of Aragon, III of Barcelona, II of Valencia, I of Majorca, who was on the throne from 1338 to 1397, ordered the "Ordenaciones de su Casa y Corte" to be written, following the model of the "Palatine Laws" of James III of Majorca. Completed in Valencia, the manuscript, which covered the Ordinations and Ceremonials, more than satisfied the King´s aims and three copies of the document were made in the vernacular tongue to be sent to ZARAGOZA; BARCELONA and VALENCIA, affirming the role of the crown in the creation of a modern state. This was one of the richest in Europe and a reference for other monarchies. The Codex starts with the Ordination of the Royal Household, which are structured on the base of the four main professions:

• "Mayordomo",
• "Camarlengo",
• "Canciller" and
• "Maestre racional"

(Head of staff, chamberlain, keeper of the royal seal, treasurer).

They included the tiniest details of the private life of the King and his household and court, as well as the court protocol. The introduction to the ceremonial is written in Romance.

The facsimile volume, the original of which is found in the library archives of the Bartolomé March Foundation, consists of 116 folios of parchment, written on both sides and is sized 36.8 x26.8cm. It is accompanied with a volume of the same size bound in half leather, which contains:

• The "Phillips" manuscript
  • Raison d´etre of the manuscript
  • History of the "Phillips" manuscript
• The text
  • The Ordinations of the Royal Household and the Consecration of the Monarchs.
  • The King´s household and court
  • Consecration and Coronation of the King and Queen.
• Translation of the text into Castilian Spanish
  • The author is Professor Dr.Bonifacio Palacios Martin
    • Degree in Medieval History at the University of Zaragoza in 1967.
    • Doctorate at Madrid Autonomous University in 1973 .
    • Senior Lecturer at Zaragoza University since 1988
    • Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at Madrid´s Alcala de Henares University.

The edition consists of 599 copies worldwide, numbered and notarilly certified.

A documentation kit containing 1 sample page, in the original size, from the Ordinations and Ceremonials of the Coronation of the Monarchs of Aragon Facsimile Volume, plus an illustrated, 8 page information brochure, is available for $US75.