Joanot Martorell ( 1413 -- 1468 ) was the Valencian author of the novel Tirant lo Blanch , which is written in the Catalan language ( Martorell calls it `` the Valencian vernacular '' `` vulgar llengua valenciana '' used in the Crown of Aragon ) . Joanot Martorell ( Gandia , south of Valencia , 1413 -- 1468 ) was a Valencian knight and the author of the novel Tirant lo Blanch , which is written in Valencian ( Martorell calls it `` the Valencian popular '' `` vulgar llengua valenciana '' spoken in the Kingdom of Valencia ) .