Damião de Góis

Damião de Góis was a Philosophe Portuguese born the February 2nd 1502 with Alenquer and deceased the January 30th 1574, apparently in the same city. Appear without equal of the Portuguese Renaissance, Historien and philosopher Humaniste of foreground. It had an encyclopedic spirit and was one of the greatest critical spirits of its time. It was a true hyphen between the Portugal and the erudite Europe of the XVIe century. It in particular met Sebastian Münster, Érasme, Ramusio, Philippe Melanchthon and Martin Luther. It was also friendly of João de Barros and André de Resende.


Portrait by Albrecht To last
(Österr. Staatsgalerie Albertina, Vienna)

Life

Damião de Góis is resulting from a noble family. It descends from Nicolau de Limi , noble Flemish established in Portugal. His/her large father, Gums Dias de Góis, was in the entourage of Henri the Navigator. His/her father, the almoxarife (intendant) Rui Dias de Góis was protected from the Duque de Aveiroe and his fourth wife Isabel Gomes of Limi . After the death of his/her father, Damião de Góis spends 10 years during its childhood as manservant of Manuel Ier. In 1523, Jean III the fact secretary of the Counter Portuguese of Antwerp, favor granted because of its Flemish ascent. It carried out several diplomatic missions and commercial in Europe between 1528 and 1531. He travels in particular in Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, France, Italy. In 1533, it gives up its functions with the service of the Portuguese government to be devoted exclusively to its objectives Humaniste S. It becomes a close friend of Érasme, with which it has lives with Basle and 1534 and which as well as guides it in its studies in its writings. He studies with Padoue in 1534 and 1538, at the same humanistic time as the Italy NS Pietro Bembo and Lazzaro Buonamico. A little later it is fixed at Leuwen during six years.

Damião de Góis is imprisoned at the time of the fourth war between François Ier and Charles Quint, but is released on intervention of Jean III], which makes it return to Portugal. In 1548, it is named conervator of the Royal archives of Torre C Tombo. Ten years later, Henri Ier chooses it to write the chronicle of the reign of Manuel Ier. The latter is completed in 1567.

Its famous Fides, religio, moresque Aethiopum (1540) knows a great diffusion in all Europe, that it is in the circles Catholique S or Protestant. It is published in (Paris - 1541, Leuwen - 1544, Leyde - 1561, Cologne - 1574). However, this work displeases with some noble families. He was in particular criticized by the very powerful cardinal Henri Ier of Portugal which, as Grand inquisitor of the Portuguese Enquiry, prohibited its publication in Portugal. The order Jesuit was also shown very critical and the superior Simão Rodrigues shows Damião de Góis of Luthérianisme, before the Enquiry does not do it in its turn. In 1571, Damião de Góis falls thus between the hands from the the Holy Office. Brutally, he is imprisoned, considered and transferred to the Monastère from Batalha, free but sick. Its death is tragic. Given up by its family, it is found died, under mysterious conditions, in its house of Alenquer, on January 30th, 1574. It is buried with the church Saint-Marie de Várzea of the same village. It leaves eight wire.

Its principal works in Latin and Portuguese are historical studies. They include/understand a Crónica C Felicíssimo Rei Dom Emanuel (four parts, 1566-67) and the Crónica C Príncipe Dom João (1567). It also composed some parts of music and had a collection of paintings.

Contrary to its contemporary Jean de Barros, it preserves a neutral position in its works concerning the king Manuel Ier and of his son prince Jean, the future Jean III of Portugal.

Works

It translated several Latin works into Portuguese, in particular the Cato Maior de Senectute of Cicéron. Góis translated from Latin an opuscule concerning the Ambassade of the métropolite of Ethiopia Mateus, sent by the Negus David II, entitled Legatio Magni Indorum Imperatoris Presbyteri Ioannis . This last work also includes/understands famous the letter of the Royaume of the priest Jean (1509) written by the Helene empress of Ethiopia, marries Zara Yacoub, Fides, religio, moresque sub imperio Pretiosi Ioannis and a Confessio it fidei . Among his writings, one also counts a description of the life of the people Saami. Its major work is Chrónica C Felicíssimo Rey D. Emanuel da Gloriosa Memória (1566-1567), written in Lisbon, and where he reports with an authentic indignation the massacre of the “new Christians” in Lisbon in 1506.

Related articles

  • Gaspar da Gama

External bonds

  • Page on Damião de Góis

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