Balbuena, Bernardo De
Balbuena, Bernardo de
A Spanish poet, born in Val de Peñas, 1568; died in Porto Rico, 1627. At an early age he was taken by his parents to Mexico, where he received his education. Later he spent twelve years in Jamaica, and then passed the remainder of his days of Bishop of Porto Rico, to which see he was appointed in 1620. He published “La Grandeza Mejicana” in 1604, and in 1608, in Madrid, “Siglo de Oro en las Selvas de Eriphile”, a very learned pastoral romance abounding in beautiful poetic passages. The book, however, contained no description of the scenery or manners of the New World and nothing connected with the history of the times. Possibly for this reason it was not in great demand among Balbuena’s contemporaries. But in 1821 it had the honour of being republished by the Spanish Academy. Another work “El Bernardo ó Victoria de Roncesvalles” was published in Madrid in 1624 (new edition, 1808). It was an epic poem on the subject of Spain’s resistance to the invasion of Charlemagne.
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VENTURA FUENTES Transcribed by Christine J. Murray
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IICopyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Balbuena, Bernardo De
bishop and poet of Spain, was born at Valdepenas in 1568. He accompanied his family to Mexico, and had scarcely attained his seventeenth year when he became remarkable for his poetic talent. After a time he returned to his native country, but he spent the remainder of his life at Jamaica, where he exercised the functions of judge, or at Porto Rico, where he became bishop. He was there in 1625, when the Dutch pillaged it, and lost a large library. He died at Porto Rico in 1627. He wrote Siglo de Oro en las Selvas de Eriphile (Madrid, 1608 and 1821). Another poem, entitled Grandeza Mexicana, was published (ibid. 1604). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.