Jacobo de Testera
Encyclopedia
Fray Jacobo de Testera or Jacobo de Tastera was a Franciscan Friar
of the 16th century who worked as a missionary to the indigenous peoples of New Spain
. Born into a noble family in Bayonne
, France
he entered the Franciscan order around 1500 and went to Seville
where he eventually became palace priest of Charles V
. In 1527 he was recruited by Fray Antonio de Ciudad Rodrigo to go to Mexico
where he arrived in 1529.
Aong the first things he witnessed was the beating to death of the indigenous ruler of Tacubaya
by Diego Delgadillo
for not being able to provide the latter with sufficient workers to construct his palace. Tastera became the companion of Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga
before deciding to dedicate himself to the mission. He started to work closely with Fray Pedro de Gante
, creating instructional materials for the natives. He missionized in Michoacán
and in Atlixco
before going to work among the Maya people of Yucatán
and later among the Nahua people of Huejotzinco, where he spent the last part of his life in the monastery. He was a colleague of Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" and a friend of Bartolomé de las Casas
. As he never became fluent in an indigenous language he invented a way of proselytizing with images called Testerian
codices
employing the rebus
system to teach Indians Christian doctrine.
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
of the 16th century who worked as a missionary to the indigenous peoples of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
. Born into a noble family in Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
he entered the Franciscan order around 1500 and went to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
where he eventually became palace priest of Charles V
Charles V
Charles V may refer to:* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor , also Charles I of Spain* Charles V of Naples , better known as Charles II of Spain* Charles V of France , called the Wise...
. In 1527 he was recruited by Fray Antonio de Ciudad Rodrigo to go to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where he arrived in 1529.
Aong the first things he witnessed was the beating to death of the indigenous ruler of Tacubaya
Tacubaya
Tacubaya is a section of Mexico City located in the west in the Miguel Hidalgo borough. The area has been inhabited since before the Christian era, with its name coming from Nahuatl meaning “where water is gathered.” From the colonial period to the beginning of the 20th century, Tacubaya was...
by Diego Delgadillo
Diego Delgadillo
Diego Delgadillo was a judge of the first Audiencia of New Spain, which governed the colony from December 9, 1528 to January 9, 1531.Delgadillo was a native of Granada...
for not being able to provide the latter with sufficient workers to construct his palace. Tastera became the companion of Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga
Juan de Zumárraga
Juan de Zumárraga was a Spanish Basque Franciscan prelate and first bishop of Mexico.-Origins and arrival in New Spain:...
before deciding to dedicate himself to the mission. He started to work closely with Fray Pedro de Gante
Pedro de Gante
Fray Pieter van der Moere, also known as Fray Pedro de Gante or Pedro de Mura was a Franciscan missionary in sixteenth century Mexico. Born in Geraardsbergen in present day Belgium, he was of Flemish descent...
, creating instructional materials for the natives. He missionized in Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
and in Atlixco
Atlixco
Atlixco is a city and a municipality in the Mexican state of Puebla. It is located only 24 km south of the city of Puebla, yet it is 300 meters lower in altitude, at 1840 m. This drop in altitude causes a noticeable change in the weather of the city compared to the surrounding regions of the...
before going to work among the Maya people of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
and later among the Nahua people of Huejotzinco, where he spent the last part of his life in the monastery. He was a colleague of Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" and a friend of Bartolomé de las Casas
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Bartolomé de las Casas O.P. was a 16th-century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar. He became the first resident Bishop of Chiapas, and the first officially appointed "Protector of the Indians"...
. As he never became fluent in an indigenous language he invented a way of proselytizing with images called Testerian
Testerian
Testerian is a pictorial writing system that was used until the 19th century to teach Christian doctrine to Indians in Mexico, who were unfamiliar with alphabetic writing systems. Its invention is attributed to Jacobo de Testera, a Franciscan who arrived in Mexico in 1529....
codices
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
employing the rebus
Rebus
A rebus is an allusional device that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. It was a favourite form of heraldic expression used in the Middle Ages to denote surnames, for example in its basic form 3 salmon fish to denote the name "Salmon"...
system to teach Indians Christian doctrine.