Bento Teixeira
Encyclopedia
Bento Teixeira was a Portuguese
poet. He is considered to be the introducer of Baroque
in Brazil
and the first Brazilian poet — however, this last affirmation is contested by many historians.
, Portugal
, to Manuel Álvares de Barros and Lianor Rodrigues. He moved to Brazil in 1567(?), most precisely to Bahia
, but he had to flee to Pernambuco
when he revealed he was Jewish.
In Pernambuco, he became a teacher of Arithmetics, Grammar
and Latin. Returning to Bahia, he married Filipa Raposa in the city of Ilhéus
, in 1584(?).
Allegedly, Teixeira murder
ed his wife under suspects of adultery
, what made him flee to Pernambuco once more. Refugiated at the Monastery of São Bento, he wrote his masterpiece Prosopopeia.
Another version tells that Teixeira's wife accused him of being Jewish. After being interrogated and absolved in 1589, he was intimated by the caller of the Inquisition
, and Teixeira then confessed that he was a follower of the Judaism
. Enraged by his wife's delation, he murdered her and fled to the aforementioned monastery. However, he was found, arrested and sent to Lisbon
in 1595(?), staying there until his death.
The only one whose authorship is confirmed was the epic poem Prosopopeia, written in 1601
. The poem, inspired by Luís de Camões
' Os Lusíadas
, tells about the life and works of the then-governor of Pernambuco
Jorge de Albuquerque Coelho and his brother Duarte.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
poet. He is considered to be the introducer of Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the first Brazilian poet — however, this last affirmation is contested by many historians.
Life
Details about Teixeira's life are very sparse. His birthplace is most commonly accepted to be PortoPorto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, to Manuel Álvares de Barros and Lianor Rodrigues. He moved to Brazil in 1567(?), most precisely to Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, but he had to flee to Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
when he revealed he was Jewish.
In Pernambuco, he became a teacher of Arithmetics, Grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
and Latin. Returning to Bahia, he married Filipa Raposa in the city of Ilhéus
Ilhéus
Ilhéus is a major city located in the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil, 430 km south of Salvador, the state's capital. The city was originally founded in 1534 as Vila de São Jorge dos Ilhéus and is known as one of the most important tourism centers of the northeast of Brazil.The...
, in 1584(?).
Allegedly, Teixeira murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed his wife under suspects of adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
, what made him flee to Pernambuco once more. Refugiated at the Monastery of São Bento, he wrote his masterpiece Prosopopeia.
Another version tells that Teixeira's wife accused him of being Jewish. After being interrogated and absolved in 1589, he was intimated by the caller of the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
, and Teixeira then confessed that he was a follower of the Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. Enraged by his wife's delation, he murdered her and fled to the aforementioned monastery. However, he was found, arrested and sent to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
in 1595(?), staying there until his death.
Works
Many works were attributed to Teixeira, such as:- Relações do Naufrágio: According to studies made by Francisco Adolfo de VarnhagenFrancisco Adolfo de VarnhagenFrancisco Adolfo de Varnhagen, Viscount of Porto Seguro was a Brazilian military, diplomat and historian. He is the patron of the 39th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters.-Life:...
, it was written by Afonso Luís, pilot of a carrackCarrackA carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
named Santo Antônio, mentioned in the poem Prosopopeia.
- Diálogos das Grandezas do Brasil: According to Capistrano de AbreuCapistrano de AbreuJoão Capistrano de Abreu was a Brazilian historian. His works are characterized by a rigorous investigation of the sources and a critical view of the historical process....
, it was written by Ambrósio Fernandes Brandão.
The only one whose authorship is confirmed was the epic poem Prosopopeia, written in 1601
1601 in literature
The year 1601 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 7 - The Lord Chamberlain's Men stage a performance of Shakespeare's Richard II at the Globe Theatre. The performance is specially commissioned by the plotters in the Earl of Essex's rebellion of the following day...
. The poem, inspired by Luís de Camões
Luís de Camões
Luís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas...
' Os Lusíadas
Os Lusíadas
Os Lusíadas , usually translated as The Lusiads, is a Portuguese epic poem by Luís Vaz de Camões ....
, tells about the life and works of the then-governor of Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
Jorge de Albuquerque Coelho and his brother Duarte.