Henry Ercole
Encyclopedia
Henry Ercole was a minor Maltese mediaeval philosopher who specialised mainly in ethics
and logic
. He enjoyed great esteem from his contemporaries, both as an administrator and a philosopher.
friar, for sure, but it not known where he completed his initial studies, whether in Malta
, Sicily
or elsewhere. The first time we come across documentary evidence about him is when, in 1711, he was Master of Studies at the Studium Generale of the Dominicans at Rabat, Malta
. Four years later, in 1715, he held the same office at Trapani
, Sicily
.
For some unknown reason, some time between 1716 and 1718 Ercole was expelled from Sicily
by royal decree, and returned to Malta
. He acquired his Baccalaureate
in theology between 1718 and 1722. In this latter year, Ercole was appointed Master of Studies at the Dominican Collegium Generale of Valletta
, Malta
. A year later, in 1723, he became Master of Theology.
In 1724, Ercole’s life took a turn when he was chosen as Prior Provincial of the Dominican
province of Sicily
(which included also Malta
). This was at Caltanisetta, and Ercole was the first Maltese Dominican friar to achieve such a position. He remained in this office for two years, up till 1726, then returned to Malta
. He lived at the convent of Valletta
, where, in 1734, he was chosen as Prior of the community. Ercole was twice the Vicar-General of the Maltese Dominicans on behalf of the Sicilian Prior Provincial. The second time was between 1738 and 1741.
Throughout this whole period, at least from 1711 onwards, Ercole never stopped teaching philosophy and theology. He was particularly close to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers, Emanuel Pinto, who consistently showered upon him innumerable favours. This stands as witness to Ercole’s position of high regard.
Unfortunately, no portrait of him has been discovered as yet.
declare that Ercole gave his assistance in their composition, though they fall short of asserting that he was their co-author.
Only one light work is certainly his: Lettere Famigliari (Convivial Letters), dedicated to Grand Master Emanuel Pinto. The manuscript, which is held at National Library of Malta
in Valletta
, Malta
, and marked as MS. 759, is made up of 231 folios (though in the extant document the last six pages are missing). The work is a collection of twenty-six letters, all signed, in which Ercole imagines writing to scholars who had put in doubt the shipwreck of St. Paul on Malta
back in the 1st century as recounted in the Bible (Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 27-28). To illustrate his point, he also pens down a crude map of the Mediterranean Sea
.
Ercole’s writing is not a piece of rhetorical work, as one might expect with such themes. It is an interesting Scholastic disputation concentrating on the logic of statements put forward by the proponents. Ercole skilfully draws out certain main points, and examines their logical content and their syntax.
Apart of this work, it is possible that other compositions exist from Ercole’s hand. However, they might not bear his name, and much research is still needed to ascribe authorship to him.
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
. He enjoyed great esteem from his contemporaries, both as an administrator and a philosopher.
Life
It is still unclear where Ercole was born in Malta or when. He was a DominicanDominican 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...
friar, for sure, but it not known where he completed his initial studies, whether in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
or elsewhere. The first time we come across documentary evidence about him is when, in 1711, he was Master of Studies at the Studium Generale of the Dominicans at Rabat, Malta
Rabat, Malta
Rabat is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. The name of the village is derived from the Arabic word for 'suburb': الرباط, as it was the suburb of the old capital Mdina. Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melita, before the latter was resized during the...
. Four years later, in 1715, he held the same office at Trapani
Trapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
.
For some unknown reason, some time between 1716 and 1718 Ercole was expelled from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
by royal decree, and returned to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. He acquired his Baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in theology between 1718 and 1722. In this latter year, Ercole was appointed Master of Studies at the Dominican Collegium Generale of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. A year later, in 1723, he became Master of Theology.
In 1724, Ercole’s life took a turn when he was chosen as Prior Provincial of 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...
province of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(which included also Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
). This was at Caltanisetta, and Ercole was the first Maltese Dominican friar to achieve such a position. He remained in this office for two years, up till 1726, then returned to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. He lived at the convent of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, where, in 1734, he was chosen as Prior of the community. Ercole was twice the Vicar-General of the Maltese Dominicans on behalf of the Sicilian Prior Provincial. The second time was between 1738 and 1741.
Throughout this whole period, at least from 1711 onwards, Ercole never stopped teaching philosophy and theology. He was particularly close to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers, Emanuel Pinto, who consistently showered upon him innumerable favours. This stands as witness to Ercole’s position of high regard.
Unfortunately, no portrait of him has been discovered as yet.
Extant works
Very few works of Ercole seem to have survived. Three works by Rosarius Mary HagiusRosarius Mary Hagius
Rosarius Mary Hagius was a minor Maltese mediaeval philosopher who specialised mainly in metaphysics.-Life:Little is known as yet about the private life of Hagius. This is unfortunate because, from his extant works, it can clearly be seen that he possessed a superior mind, and quite dexterous in...
declare that Ercole gave his assistance in their composition, though they fall short of asserting that he was their co-author.
Only one light work is certainly his: Lettere Famigliari (Convivial Letters), dedicated to Grand Master Emanuel Pinto. The manuscript, which is held at National Library of Malta
National Library of Malta
The National Library of Malta began in 1555. It is currently the legal deposit and copyright for Malta. Its collection spans the personal libraries of the Knights of Malta , including archives from the medieval Università dei Giurati of Mdina and Valletta.-Early history:The idea of a public Library...
in Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, and marked as MS. 759, is made up of 231 folios (though in the extant document the last six pages are missing). The work is a collection of twenty-six letters, all signed, in which Ercole imagines writing to scholars who had put in doubt the shipwreck of St. Paul on Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
back in the 1st century as recounted in the Bible (Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 27-28). To illustrate his point, he also pens down a crude map of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
Ercole’s writing is not a piece of rhetorical work, as one might expect with such themes. It is an interesting Scholastic disputation concentrating on the logic of statements put forward by the proponents. Ercole skilfully draws out certain main points, and examines their logical content and their syntax.
Apart of this work, it is possible that other compositions exist from Ercole’s hand. However, they might not bear his name, and much research is still needed to ascribe authorship to him.
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.