Pascual de Gayangos y Arce
Encyclopedia
Pascual de Gayangos y Arce (June 21, 1809 – October 4, 1897) was a Spanish
scholar and orientalist
.
Born in Seville
, he was the son of Brigadier José de Gayangos, intendente
of Zacatecas
, in New Spain
. After completing his primary education in Madrid, at the age of thirteen he was sent to school at Pont-le-Voy near Blois
. Then, he began the study of Arabic
in the École spéciale des Langues orientales
of Paris under Silvestre de Sacy
. After a visit to Britain
, where he married, he obtained a post in the Spanish treasury, and was transferred to the foreign office as translator in 1833.
In 1837 he returned to Britain, wrote extensively in British periodicals, like The Athenaeum
, and in publications of the SDUK, like The Penny Cyclopaedia for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
and The Biographical Dictionary. In these years he completed his magnum opus
as an arabist
: the translation, for the Royal Asiatic Society
, of the first part of Al Makkari
's biography of Ibn al-Khatib
. The edition was entitled the History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain and appeared in two volumes in 1840 and 1843 . While in England
, he entered in the Holland House circle, where made the acquaintance of George Ticknor
, to whom he was very helpful. In 1843 he returned to Spain as professor of Arabic at the University of Madrid
, a post he held until 1871. He entered in politics in 1881, when he was made director of public instruction. He resigned on being elected senator for the district of Huelva
.
His latter years were spent in cataloguing the Spanish manuscripts in the British Museum
; he had previously continued Bergenroth
's catalogue of the manuscripts relating to the negotiations between England and Spain in the Simancas
archives. His best-known original work is his dissertation on Spanish romances of chivalry
in Rivadeneyra's Biblioteca de autores españoles. He died in London
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
scholar and orientalist
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
.
Born in 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...
, he was the son of Brigadier José de Gayangos, intendente
Intendente
Governors in the various Provinces of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.In addition to governors, the following list intends to give an overview of colonial units of the provincial level; therefore it also includes some offices of similar rank, especially the intendant...
of Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
, in 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...
. After completing his primary education in Madrid, at the age of thirteen he was sent to school at Pont-le-Voy near Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
. Then, he began the study of Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
in the École spéciale des Langues orientales
Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
The Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales is located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1795 after the French Revolution and is now one of the country's Grands établissements with a specialization in African, Asian, East European, Oceanian languages and civilisations...
of Paris under Silvestre de Sacy
Silvestre de Sacy
Antoine Isaac, Baron Silvestre de Sacy , was a French linguist and orientalist. His son, Ustazade Silvestre de Sacy, became a journalist.-Early life:...
. After a visit to Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
, where he married, he obtained a post in the Spanish treasury, and was transferred to the foreign office as translator in 1833.
In 1837 he returned to Britain, wrote extensively in British periodicals, like The Athenaeum
Athenaeum (magazine)
The Athenaeum was a literary magazine published in London from 1828 to 1921. It had a reputation for publishing the very best writers of the age....
, and in publications of the SDUK, like The Penny Cyclopaedia for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
Penny Cyclopaedia
The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was a multi-volume encyclopedia edited by George Long and published by Charles Knight alongside the Penny Magazine. The volumes were published from 1833 to 1843.-External links:...
and The Biographical Dictionary. In these years he completed his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
as an arabist
Arabist
This is an article about the western scholars known as Arabists, not the political movement Pan-Arabism.An Arabist is someone normally from outside the Arab World who specialises in the study of the Arabic language and Arab culture, and often Arabic literature.-Origins:Arabists began in medieval...
: the translation, for the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
, of the first part of Al Makkari
Ahmed Mohammed al Makkari
Abu-l-'Abbas Ahmad ibn Mohammed al-Maqqari was a historian born in Tlemcen, present day Algeria.After an early training in Tlemcen, al-Maqqari moved to Fes in Morocco and then to Marrakech, following the court of Ahmad al-Mansur, to whom he dedicated his Rawdat al-As about the ulemas of...
's biography of Ibn al-Khatib
Ibn al-Khatib
Lisan al-Din ibn al-Khatib was a poet, writer, historian, philosopher, physician and politician from Emirate of Granada. Some of his poems decorate the walls of the Alhambra in Granada.He was born at Loja, near Granada...
. The edition was entitled the History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain and appeared in two volumes in 1840 and 1843 . While in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he entered in the Holland House circle, where made the acquaintance of George Ticknor
George Ticknor
George Ticknor was an American academician and Hispanist, specializing in the subject areas of languages and literature. He is known for his scholarly work on the history and criticism of Spanish literature....
, to whom he was very helpful. In 1843 he returned to Spain as professor of Arabic at the University of Madrid
Complutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of...
, a post he held until 1871. He entered in politics in 1881, when he was made director of public instruction. He resigned on being elected senator for the district of Huelva
Huelva
Huelva is a city in southwestern Spain, the capital of the province of Huelva in the autonomous region of Andalusia. It is located along the Gulf of Cadiz coast, at the confluence of the Odiel and Tinto rivers. According to the 2010 census, the city has a population of 149,410 inhabitants. The...
.
His latter years were spent in cataloguing the Spanish manuscripts in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
; he had previously continued Bergenroth
Gustav Adolf Bergenroth
Gustav Adolf Bergenroth was a German historian. Bergenroth held a State office, but was dismissed and exiled because of his sympathy with the revolutionary movement of 1848. He came to England to collect materials for a history of the Tudors...
's catalogue of the manuscripts relating to the negotiations between England and Spain in the Simancas
Simancas
Simancas is a town and municipality of central Spain, located in the province of Valladolid, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León...
archives. His best-known original work is his dissertation on Spanish romances of chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
in Rivadeneyra's Biblioteca de autores españoles. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.