This historical document is the founding charter of the San Francisco Convent of the city of Jaén, by which King Pedro I donated a house and orchard in the city to the Order of Saint Francis of Assisi to establish the convent. The space ceded to the Franciscan friars was the same place where Ferdinand III ordered a small Palace to be built after the city's conquest in 1246.
The plot referred to by the charter currently occupies, approximately, the site where the Provincial Council of Jaén stands. The foundation was made at the request of the city's justice and council, with the intention of establishing a Franciscan convent. King Pedro I agreed to the request, donating "a house and orchard with trees of all kinds" within the walls.
The document also indicates that the Franciscan order would have the necessary water for the maintenance of the orchard. The convent's importance stems from its close relationship with the monarchy, having been chosen as a residence for Ferdinand III.
The Order of Saint Francis maintained the convent until 1524, when it was handed over to the Observants, who managed it until the 19th century. After Mendizábal's disentailment in 1836, the convent was expropriated by the State. Its complete demolition began in 1867 to build the current palace of the Provincial Council of Jaén on its ruins.
The document will be exhibited free of charge throughout November, from Monday to Friday, between 9 AM and 8 PM.
