Jeronymo Osorio
Encyclopedia
Jerónimo Osório was a Portuguese historian, a native of Lisbon
and son of the Ouvidor Geral of India.
, one of the founders of the Society of Jesus
. Returning to Portugal, Osório next proceeded for theology to Bologna
, where he made such a name that King John III. invited him in 1536-1537 to lecture on scripture in the reorganized university of Coimbra
. He returned to Lisbon in 1540, and acted as secretary to Prince Luís, and as tutor to his son, the prior of Crato, obtaining also two benefices in the diocese of Viseu. In 1542 he printed in Lisbon his treatise De nobilitate. After the death of Prince Luís in 1553, he withdrew from court to his churches.
He was named archdeacon of Évora
in 1560, and much against his will became bishop of Silves in 1564. The Cardinal Prince Henry
, who had bestowed these honors, desired to employ him at Lisbon in state business when King Sebastian
took up the reins of power in 1568, but Osório excused himself on the ground of his pastoral duties, though he showed his zeal for the commonwealth by writing two letters, one in which he dissuaded the king from going to Africa, the other sent during the latter's first expedition there, in which he called on him to return to his kingdom. Sebastian looked with disfavor on opponents of his African adventure, and Osório found it prudent to leave Portugal for Parma
and Rome on the pretext of a visit ad limina. His scruples regarding residence, and the appeals of the King and the Cardinal Prince, prevented him enjoying for long the hospitality of Pope Gregory XIII
., and he returned to his diocese and died at Tavira
on 20 August 1580.
An exemplary prelate, a learned scholar and an able critic, Osório gained a European reputation by writing in Latin, then the lingua franca
of the studious throughout Christendom, and the perfection of his prose style caused him to be named by contemporaries the Portuguese Cicero. His well-stocked library was carried off from Faro
when the earl of Essex
captured the town in 1596, and many of the books were bestowed on the Bodleian at Oxford.
Osorio's book was turned into Portuguese by Francisco Manoel de Nascimento
, into French by J. Crispin 2 vols., Geneva, 1610), and an English paraphrase in 2 vols. by J. Gibbs came out in London in 1752. His Opera omnia were published by his nephew (4 vols., Rome, 1592). Two of his polemical treatises have been translated into English, his Epistle to Elizabeth Queen of England by R. Shacklock (Antwerp, 1565), and his Confutation of M. W. Haddon by John Fenn
, against Walter Haddon
(Louvain, 1568). His Portuguese epistles, including the two before mentioned, were printed in Lisbon in two editions in 1818 and 1819, and in Paris in 1859. For his biography see Obras de D. F. A. Lobo, bishop of Vizeu, i. 293-301
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...
and son of the Ouvidor Geral of India.
Life
In 1519 his mother sent him to Salamanca to study civil law, and in 1525 he went on to Paris to study philosophy, and there became intimate with Peter FaberPeter Faber
Blessed Peter Faver was a French Jesuit theologian and a cofounder of the Society of Jesus. He was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church on September 5, 1872.-Biography:Peter Faver , grew up in far east central France...
, one of the founders of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. Returning to Portugal, Osório next proceeded for theology to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, where he made such a name that King John III. invited him in 1536-1537 to lecture on scripture in the reorganized university of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. He returned to Lisbon in 1540, and acted as secretary to Prince Luís, and as tutor to his son, the prior of Crato, obtaining also two benefices in the diocese of Viseu. In 1542 he printed in Lisbon his treatise De nobilitate. After the death of Prince Luís in 1553, he withdrew from court to his churches.
He was named archdeacon of Évora
Évora
Évora is a municipality in Portugal. It has total area of with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes, and is located in Évora District....
in 1560, and much against his will became bishop of Silves in 1564. The Cardinal Prince Henry
Prince Henry
Prince Henry may refer to:*Prince Henry of Wales, known as Prince Harry, second son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and currently third in line to the throne of the United Kingdom...
, who had bestowed these honors, desired to employ him at Lisbon in state business when King Sebastian
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...
took up the reins of power in 1568, but Osório excused himself on the ground of his pastoral duties, though he showed his zeal for the commonwealth by writing two letters, one in which he dissuaded the king from going to Africa, the other sent during the latter's first expedition there, in which he called on him to return to his kingdom. Sebastian looked with disfavor on opponents of his African adventure, and Osório found it prudent to leave Portugal for Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
and Rome on the pretext of a visit ad limina. His scruples regarding residence, and the appeals of the King and the Cardinal Prince, prevented him enjoying for long the hospitality of Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
., and he returned to his diocese and died at Tavira
Tavira
Tavira is a Portuguese city, situated at 37°07' north, 7°39' west in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. It is 30 km east of Faro and 160 km west of Seville in Spain. The Gilão River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Tavira....
on 20 August 1580.
An exemplary prelate, a learned scholar and an able critic, Osório gained a European reputation by writing in Latin, then the lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of the studious throughout Christendom, and the perfection of his prose style caused him to be named by contemporaries the Portuguese Cicero. His well-stocked library was carried off from Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
when the earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
captured the town in 1596, and many of the books were bestowed on the Bodleian at Oxford.
Works
His principal works written in Latin include:- De gloria et nobilitate civile et christiana, an English version of which by W. Blandie appeared in London in 1576.
- De justltza.
- De regis institutione el disciplina.
- De vera sapientia.
- De rebus Emmanuelis (1586), a history of the reign of King Emanuel which is little more than a translation of the chronicle on the same subject by Damio de Goes.
Osorio's book was turned into Portuguese by Francisco Manoel de Nascimento
Francisco Manoel de Nascimento
Francisco Manoel de Nascimento , Portuguese poet, better known by the literary name of Filinto Elysio, bestowed on him by the Marqueza de Alorna, was the reputed son of a Lisbon boat-owner.-Early years:...
, into French by J. Crispin 2 vols., Geneva, 1610), and an English paraphrase in 2 vols. by J. Gibbs came out in London in 1752. His Opera omnia were published by his nephew (4 vols., Rome, 1592). Two of his polemical treatises have been translated into English, his Epistle to Elizabeth Queen of England by R. Shacklock (Antwerp, 1565), and his Confutation of M. W. Haddon by John Fenn
John Fenn (priest)
John Fenn was an English Roman Catholic priest and writer, in exile under Elizabeth I of England...
, against Walter Haddon
Walter Haddon
Walter Haddon LL.D. was an English civil lawyer, much involved in church and university affairs under Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Elizabeth I...
(Louvain, 1568). His Portuguese epistles, including the two before mentioned, were printed in Lisbon in two editions in 1818 and 1819, and in Paris in 1859. For his biography see Obras de D. F. A. Lobo, bishop of Vizeu, i. 293-301