Vicente do Salvador
Encyclopedia
Vicente do Salvador born Vicente Rodrigues Palha, (Salvador, December 20, 1564 - c. 1635) was a Franciscan friar in Brazil
, the author of the first history of Brazil, often titled the "father of Brazilian history".
Vicente Rodrigues Palha was born in Matuim, about six miles north of the city of Bahia
in 1564. Like most learned men of the time, he studied in the Jesuit College of Salvador, Bahia
, and later in the University of Coimbra were he majored.
Returning to Brazil, he was ordained priest, came to be canon
at the cathedral and vicar-general of Bahia. At thirty-five he became a Franciscan
friar, changing his name to Vicente Salvador. He was a missionary
in Paraíba
, lived in Pernambuco
and cooperated in the founding of the Franciscan house in Rio de Janeiro
in 1607, becoming its first prelate. After returning to Pernambuco, where he taught arts at the convent of the order, in Olinda
, returning to Bahia in 1612. He was elected in Lisbon custodian of the Franciscan Custody of Brazil. After a stay in Portugal, he returned to Bahia, as guardian, having died there between 1636-1639.
It is also one of the first studies on everyday life in the colony, reporting marriage customs, child rearing, funeral rites, indigenous languages and so on.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the author of the first history of Brazil, often titled the "father of Brazilian history".
Vicente Rodrigues Palha was born in Matuim, about six miles north of the city of Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
in 1564. Like most learned men of the time, he studied in the Jesuit College of Salvador, Bahia
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, and later in the University of Coimbra were he majored.
Returning to Brazil, he was ordained priest, came to be canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at the cathedral and vicar-general of Bahia. At thirty-five he became a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar, changing his name to Vicente Salvador. He was a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in Paraíba
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
, lived in Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
and cooperated in the founding of the Franciscan house in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in 1607, becoming its first prelate. After returning to Pernambuco, where he taught arts at the convent of the order, in Olinda
Olinda
Olinda is a historic city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, located on the country's northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast, just north of Recife and south of Paulista...
, returning to Bahia in 1612. He was elected in Lisbon custodian of the Franciscan Custody of Brazil. After a stay in Portugal, he returned to Bahia, as guardian, having died there between 1636-1639.
Salvador's History of Brazil
Friar Vicente Salvador's "History of Brazil" written in 1627 is considered the "first classic of Brazil". It is divided into five books, describing the modus vivendi in the early Portuguese colony. The book is divided into 48 chapters describing the characteristics of the colony, its climate, fauna, flora, its name, the discovery, settlement and the division of hereditary captaincies, as well as the pressure of French and Dutch privateers in the Brazilian coast.It is also one of the first studies on everyday life in the colony, reporting marriage customs, child rearing, funeral rites, indigenous languages and so on.