Fernão de Oliveira
Encyclopedia
Fernão de Oliveira sometimes named Fernando de Oliveira, was a Portuguese grammarian, dominican friar, historian, cartographer, naval pilot and theorist on naval warfare and shipbuilding. An adventurous humanist
and renaissance man, he studied and published the first grammar of the Portuguese language
, the Grammatica da lingoagem portuguesa, in 1536.
in 1507, the son of a judge. Starting in 1520 he studied at the Dominican
Convent of Evora, where he was a disciple of André de Resende
, but later left for Spain. In 1536 he was in Lisbon, when he published his Grammar, the first for the Portuguese Language.
He had a troubled adventurous life, engaging in secret religious missions in Italy, perhaps for king John III of Portugal
. In 1545 he enlisted as pilot on a French ship, under command of the Baron Saint Blancard. Soon afterwards, they were arrested by an English fleet. While in London he attended the court of Henry VIII of England
. Having returned to Portugal in 1547, he was arrested by the Portuguese Inquisition
due to his religious opinions, having been freed in 1551, through the intervention of Cardinal Henrique.
In 1552 he became royal chaplain. Engaging in an expedition organized by king John III in North Africa, he was made prisoner for one year. In 1554, D. John III appointed him typographical reviewer of the University of Coimbra, were he also taught rhetorics. From 1555 to 1557 he was imprisoned again. From this on, his life has become uncertain, it is known that in 1565, he received a pension by king Sebastian of Portugal
, having died c.1581.
Humanist
Humanist may refer to:* A proponent or practitioner of humanism, which has several distinct senses, which are listed at Humanism and at Humanism * Humanist sans-serif, a classification of the sans-serif typeface...
and renaissance man, he studied and published the first grammar of the Portuguese language
Portuguese grammar
Portuguese grammar, the morphology and syntax of the Portuguese language, is similar to the grammar of most other Romance languages—especially that of Spanish, and even more so to that of Galician...
, the Grammatica da lingoagem portuguesa, in 1536.
Biography
Fernão de Oliveira was born in AveiroAveiro
Aveiro is a city in Aveiro Municipality in Portugal, with a total area of 199.9 km², a total population of 73,559 inhabitants, and 59,860 electors . It is the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal, after Coimbra...
in 1507, the son of a judge. Starting in 1520 he studied at the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Convent of Evora, where he was a disciple of André de Resende
Andre de Resende
André de Resende , the father of archaeology in Portugal, a Dominican friar.He spent many years traveling in Spain, France and Belgium, where he corresponded with Erasmus and other learned men. He was also intimate with King John III and his sons, and acted as tutor to the Infante D...
, but later left for Spain. In 1536 he was in Lisbon, when he published his Grammar, the first for the Portuguese Language.
He had a troubled adventurous life, engaging in secret religious missions in Italy, perhaps for king John III of Portugal
John III of Portugal
John III , nicknamed o Piedoso , was the fifteenth King of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the third daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile...
. In 1545 he enlisted as pilot on a French ship, under command of the Baron Saint Blancard. Soon afterwards, they were arrested by an English fleet. While in London he attended the court 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...
. Having returned to Portugal in 1547, he was arrested by the Portuguese Inquisition
Portuguese Inquisition
The Portuguese Inquisition was formally established in Portugal in 1536 at the request of the King of Portugal, João III. Manuel I had asked for the installation of the Inquisition in 1515 to fulfill the commitment of marriage with Maria of Aragon, but it was only after his death that the Pope...
due to his religious opinions, having been freed in 1551, through the intervention of Cardinal Henrique.
In 1552 he became royal chaplain. Engaging in an expedition organized by king John III in North Africa, he was made prisoner for one year. In 1554, D. John III appointed him typographical reviewer of the University of Coimbra, were he also taught rhetorics. From 1555 to 1557 he was imprisoned again. From this on, his life has become uncertain, it is known that in 1565, he received a pension by king Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
, having died c.1581.
Works
Fernão de Oliveira wrote, among other:- Grammatica da lingoagem portuguesa (Grammar of the Portuguese Language), 1536, printed in Lisbon by Germão Galharde;
- Livro da Fabrica das Naos (Book of nauCarrackA 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...
s' shipbuilding), c. 1580, manuscript in the National Portuguese Library; - Arte da guerra do mar (The art of sea warfare), printed in Coimbra in 1555,
- Ars nautica, (Nautical art) c. 1570, manuscript in Leiden Library,
- Historea de Portugal, (History of Portugal), after 1581.