Beatriz Galindo
Encyclopedia
Beatriz Galindo, sometimes spelt Beatrix, (born 1465? Salamanca
– 23 November 1534 in Madrid
) was a Spanish physician, and educator. She was a writer and humanist, preceptor of Queen Isabella of Castile
and her children. She was one of the most educated women of her time. There is uncertainty about her date of birth; some authors believe it is 1464 or 1474.
Beatriz Galindo was born in a family of Zamoranian
origin in the lower nobility of hidalgos
, formerly wealthy but almost destitute after the Civil Wars of Inheritance after Juan IV of Castile.
Her family chose her among her sisters to be a nun, since she was fond of reading, so they allowed her to take more education in letters at the local Grammar School besides the University of Salamanca
to help her career before taking the Orders, but her great skill in Latin
set her on an academic career before she was twelve years old.
Beatriz Galindo received her education in Italy where she took her degree in Latin and Philosophy from the University of Salerno
. Unusually for that time in Europe the Italian universities welcomed women students. It is likely that she was at one time a student of the great Spanish scholar Antonio de Nebrija
.
She was nicknamed La Latina for her skill in Latin, and became a professor at the University of Salamanca , in her native Spain, where she taught rhetoric, philosophy, and medicine. She was appointed tutor to the children of Queen Isabella of Castile. She taught Catherine of Aragon
, the future wife of Henry VIII of England
, and Joanna of Castile
, the future wife of Philip of Habsburg
and later known as Juana the Mad.
She wrote in Latin, producing poetry, and a commentary on Aristotle
.
In December 1491 she married Francisco Ramirez in Madrid. They had five children.
She was one of the first women to be active in public life during the renaissance
. It is reported that she dressed in the habit of a nun or abbess. She founded the Hospital of the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz de Madrid) in 1506 in Madrid, which still exists.
The neighborhood in Madrid where she once lived is known today as La Latina
from her nickname. There are statues of her in Salamanca and Madrid.
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
– 23 November 1534 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) was a Spanish physician, and educator. She was a writer and humanist, preceptor of Queen Isabella of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
and her children. She was one of the most educated women of her time. There is uncertainty about her date of birth; some authors believe it is 1464 or 1474.
Life
Zamora (province)
Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.The present-day province of Zamora province was one of three provinces formed from the former Kingdom of León in 1833, when Spain was re-organised into 49 provinces.It is bordered by...
origin in the lower nobility of hidalgos
Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)
A hidalgo or fidalgo is a member of the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. In popular usage it has come to mean the non-titled nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property...
, formerly wealthy but almost destitute after the Civil Wars of Inheritance after Juan IV of Castile.
Her family chose her among her sisters to be a nun, since she was fond of reading, so they allowed her to take more education in letters at the local Grammar School besides the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
to help her career before taking the Orders, but her great skill in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
set her on an academic career before she was twelve years old.
Beatriz Galindo received her education in Italy where she took her degree in Latin and Philosophy from the University of Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
. Unusually for that time in Europe the Italian universities welcomed women students. It is likely that she was at one time a student of the great Spanish scholar Antonio de Nebrija
Antonio de Nebrija
Antonio de Lebrija , also known as Antonio de Nebrija, Elio Antonio de Lebrija, Antonius Nebrissensis, and Antonio of Lebrixa, was a Spanish scholar, known for writing a grammar of the Castilian language, credited as one of the first published grammars of a Romance language...
.
She was nicknamed La Latina for her skill in Latin, and became a professor at the University of Salamanca , in her native Spain, where she taught rhetoric, philosophy, and medicine. She was appointed tutor to the children of Queen Isabella of Castile. She taught Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
, the future wife of Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, and Joanna of Castile
Joanna of Castile
Joanna , nicknamed Joanna the Mad , was the first queen regnant to reign over both the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon , a union which evolved into modern Spain...
, the future wife of Philip of Habsburg
Philip I of Castile
Philip I , known as Philip the Handsome or the Fair, was the first Habsburg King of Castile...
and later known as Juana the Mad.
She wrote in Latin, producing poetry, and a commentary on Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
.
In December 1491 she married Francisco Ramirez in Madrid. They had five children.
She was one of the first women to be active in public life during the renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. It is reported that she dressed in the habit of a nun or abbess. She founded the Hospital of the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz de Madrid) in 1506 in Madrid, which still exists.
The neighborhood in Madrid where she once lived is known today as La Latina
Barrio de La Latina (Madrid)
La Latina is a neighbourhood in the very city centre of Madrid, Spain. La Latina occupies the place of the oldest area in Madrid, the Islamic citadel inside the city walls, with narrow streets and large squares....
from her nickname. There are statues of her in Salamanca and Madrid.