A board game celebrates Abbess Emma and the story of Saint John of the Abbesses

BarcelonaEmma de Barcelona, ​​​​daughter of Guifré el Pelós and one of the most influential figures of the Catalan Middle Ages, will be the protagonist of a board game. The project, namedAbbatiza, aims to bring to the tabletop the political, judicial and ecclesiastical clashes that marked the history of the monastery of San Juan de las Abadesas, founded in 887. The publisher Snafu and Barbarroc Creations are working on the design of the game, which is expected to hit stores in 2026. revolve around wars, but we wanted to focus on a non-armed conflict, on power tensions and how they were resolved," Gerard Muñoz, the project's driving force and author of the game's design, explains to ACN. This approach is based on a specific historical episode, the trial of June 15, 913, in which Emma defended the rights of the monastery before her brother counts. "She played her cards very well and ended up accumulating as many properties as they did, something they didn't like," adds Muñoz.

The game is designed for two players and covers the period between 898, when Emma took over as head of the abbey, and 942, the year of his death. Each player takes the role of one of the two sides and must make strategic decisions to achieve political victory. "It's interesting to see how we often end up making the same decisions as historical figures because they were the most logical options, but there's also room to change the course of history," says Muñoz.

Aside from historical accuracy,AbbatizaIt also has a vindictive vocation. "We often associate the Middle Ages with a very masculine universe, but there are women who played a key role, such as Abbess Emma or Ava de Cerdanya, Countess of Besalú," recalls the designer. The game seeks to vindicate these protagonists of a time when female power was the exception, but not nonexistent.

The Sabadell-based publisher Snafu, specializing in historical simulation games, has opted for the project due to its uniqueness. "Often, large publishers look for universal themes and the country's own conflicts are left in the background," says Òscar Oliver, the game's developer, also in statements to ACN. "Here is a little-known history that allows us to make an attractive and, at the same time, rigorous game."

The project is in the testing phase, and from now on its development and production will have to be completed. The game is expected to be completed by 2026. Oliver notes that there is growing interest in this type of proposal. "During the pandemic, many people rediscovered historical games, but it's a cyclical phenomenon: there are always those who look back and want to understand history," he says.

A theatrical presentation at the Abbey Palace

As a preview, today, August 22nd, at seven in the evening, there will be a staged game at the Sant Joan de les Abadesses Abbey Palace. An actress and an actor will play the roles of Abbess Emma and Count Guifré Borrell in a performance that blends history and gameplay. "It's a way of explaining the game's mechanics and bringing the audience closer to the characters and the events," Muñoz concludes.