The Biblia Alfonsina is a landmark of medieval literature and linguistics, representing the first complete translation of the Bible into a Romance language—specifically, Castilian Spanish. Commissioned by King Alfonso X "The Wise" of Castile in the late 13th century (completed around 1280), it was not merely a religious project but a political and cultural tool designed to standardize the Spanish language and consolidate royal authority. Historical Context and the "Escuela de Traductores"

Translation Source: Scholars primarily used the Latin Vulgate of Jerome as their source text.

Unlike the earlier, more literal translations of Alfonso X’s scriptorium, Arragel’s version is heavily annotated with rabbinic commentary (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Maimonides, etc.) and includes Jewish interpretations alongside Christian ones.

Archive Sources: For broader historical context of Spanish Bibles from that era, the Internet Archive hosts various related religious texts and translations.