Alfonso de Cartagena, Pablo de Santa María and biblical exegesis: from literal sense to a political interpretation in Duodenarium II, 5–8

Alfonso de Cartagena pursued a significant ecclesiastical and political career within the court of King John II of Castile. Deeply interested in study from a young age, his legal education at the University of Salamanca was complemented by his passion for both classics and biblical texts. His interest in sacred literature was encouraged by his father, Pablo de Santa María, who dedicated to him his Additiones ad Postillam magistri Nicolai de Lira. His familiarity with scriptural texts and his father’s teachings partly explain his approach to reading and interpreting the Holy Scriptures. This study examines Cartagena’s use of biblical exegesis in the second question of the Duodenarium, dedicated to Fernán Pérez de Guzmán, Lord of Batres.