Alexandre Herculano
Alexandre Herculano | |
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Eurico, o Presbítero , O Monge de Cister, História de Portugal de Alexandre Herculano, História da Origem e Estabelecimento da Inquisição em Portugal |
Alexandre Herculano de Carvalho e Araújo (28 March 1810 – 13 September 1877) was a Portuguese novelist and historian.
Early life
Herculano's family had humble origins. One of his
Privation had made a man of him, and in these little books he proves himself a poet of deep feeling and considerable power of expression. The stirring incidents in the political emancipation of Portugal inspired his muse, and he describes the bitterness of exile, the adventurous expedition to Terceira, the heroic defence of Porto, and the final combats of liberty. In 1837 he founded the Panorama in imitation of the English
Writings
After spending his early years as a poet, Herculano introduced the historical novel into Portugal in 1844 by a book written in imitation of
From an artistic standpoint, these stories are rather laboured productions, besides being ultra-romantic in tone; but it must be remembered that they were written mainly with an educational goal, and, moreover, they deserve high praise for their style. Herculano had greater book-learning than Scott, but lacked descriptive talent and skill in dialogue. His touch is heavy, and these novels show no dramatic power, which accounts for his failure as a playwright, but their influence was as great as their followers were many.[2]
Chronicles and Histories
These and editions of two old chronicles, the "Chronicle of Dom
The difficulties he encountered in producing it were very great, for the foundations had been ill-prepared by his predecessors, and he was obliged to be artisan and architect at the same time. He had to collect manuscripts from all parts of Portugal, decipher, classify and weigh them before he could begin work, and then he found it necessary to break with precedents and destroy traditions. Serious students in Portugal and abroad welcomed the book as an historical work of the first rank, for its evidence of careful research, its able marshalling of facts, its scholarship and its painful accuracy, while the sculptural simplicity of the style and the correctness of the diction made it a Portuguese classic. The second volume of his history appeared in 1847, the third in 1849, and the fourth in 1853.[2]
Historiographic controversy
The first volume, however, gave rise to a celebrated controversy, because Herculano had reduced the famous battle of Ourique, which was supposed to have seen the birth of the Portuguese monarchy, to the dimensions of a mere skirmish, and denied the apparition of Christ to King Afonso, a fable first circulated in the 15th century.[2]
Herculano was denounced from the pulpit and by the press for his lack of
History of the Inquisition
In his youth, the excesses of absolutism had made Herculano a Liberal, and the attacks on his history turned this man, full of sentiment and deep religious conviction, into an anti-clerical who began to distinguish between political
Next to these two books ("History of Portugal from the beginning of the monarchy to the end of the reign of Afonso III" and "History of the origin and establishment of the Inquisition in Portugal"), his study, "Condition of the working classes on the peninsula from the seventh to the twelfth century" ("Do Estado das classes servas na Peninsula desde o VII. até o XII. seculo"), was Herculano's most valuable contribution to history.[2]
Retirement
In 1856 Herculano began editing a series of Portugalliae monumenta historica, but personal differences between him and the keeper of the Archives, which he necessarily frequented, interrupted his historical studies. On the death of his friend King Pedro V, Herculano left the Ajuda and retired to a country house near Santarém.[2]
The alliance of
Political legacy
In the domain of letters he remained until his death a veritable pontiff, and an article or book of his was an event celebrated from one end of Portugal to the other. The nation continued to look up to him for intellectual leadership, but, in his later years, lacking hope himself, he could not stimulate others or use to advantage the powers conferred upon him. In politics he remained a constitutional Liberal of the old type, and, for him, the people were the middle classes in opposition to the lower, which he saw to have been the supporters of tyranny in all ages, while he considered
Character
Grave as most of his writings are, they include a short description of a crossing from Jersey to Granville, in which he satirizes English character and customs, and he reveals an unexpected sense of humour. A rare capacity for tedious work, a dour Catonian rectitude, a passion for truth, pride, irritation when criticized, and independence of character are the marks of Herculano as a man.[2]
He could be broken but never bent, and his rude frankness accorded with his hard, sombre face, and he often alienated men's sympathies though he seldom lost their respect. His lyricism is vigorous, feeling but austere, and almost entirely subjective and personal, while his pamphlets are distinguished by energy of conviction, strength of affirmation, and contempt for weaker and more ignorant opponents.[2]
His History of Portugal is a great but incomplete monument. A lack of imagination and a deficit of the philosophic spirit prevented him from penetrating or drawing characters, but his analytical gift, joined to persevering toil and honesty of purpose, enabled him to present a faithful account of ascertained facts and a satisfactorily lucid explanation of political and economic events.[2]
His remains lie in a majestic tomb in the Jerónimos Monastery at Belém, near Lisbon, which was raised by public subscription. His more important works have gone through many editions, and his name is still one to reckon with when considering modern historians of Portugal and of the Iberian peninsula.[2]
Family life
In 1866, Herculano married an old love of his, Mariana Hermínia de Meira, born about 1830, with whom he had no children.
Principal works
Poetry
- The Voice of the Prophet (A Voz do Profeta) 1836
- The Believer's Harp (A Harpa do Crente) 1838
- Poems (Poesias) 1850
Theatre
- The Frontier of Africa, or Three Nights of Heartburn (O Fronteiro de África ou três noites aziagas) A drama based on Portuguese history, in three acts, staged in Lisbon, in 1838, at the Salitre Theatre, revived in Rio de Janeiro in 1862
- The Princes in Ceuta (Os Infantes em Ceuta) 1842
Novels
- The Village Parson (O Pároco de Aldeia) 1851
- The Galician: Life, Sayings, and Deeds of Lázaro Tomé (O Galego: Vida, ditos e feitos de Lázaro Tomé)
Historical novels, novellas and short stories
- The Jester (O Bobo) 1828–1843
- The Monasticon (‘’O Monasticon’’) duology:
- Eurico, the Presbyter: Visigoth Era (Eurico, o Presbítero: Época Visigótica) 1844
- The Monk of Cister; in the time of João I (O Monge de Cister; Época de D. João I) 1848, 2 volumes
- Legends and Narratives (Lendas e narrativas) 1851, collection of novellas and short stories
- Legends and Narratives, Volume 1 (Lendas e narrativas, 1.o tomo) 1851
- The Qaid of Santarém (O Alcaide de Santarém 950–961)
- Médsceatt by Charter of Spain (Arras por Foro de Espanha, archaic Portuguese for "Fee by Charter of Spain", 1371–2)
- The Castle of Faria (O Castelo de Faria 1373)
- The Vaulted Ceiling (A Abóbada 1401)
- Legends and Narratives, Volume 2 (Lendas e narrativas, 2.o tomo) 1851
- Destruction of Auria: Spanish Legends (8th century) (Destruição de Áuria: Lendas Espanholas (século VIII))
- The Black Bishop (O Bispo Negro 1130)
- The Death of the Toiler (A Morte do Lidador 1170)
- The Emprazado: Chronicle of Spain (O Emprazado: Crónica de Espanha 1312)
- The Assassinated Master: Chronicle of the Templars (O Mestre Assassinado: Crónica dos Templários 1320)
- Master Gil: A Chronicle of the Fifteenth Century (Mestre Gil: Crónica (Século XV))
- Three Months in Calcutta: First Account of the Indian States, 1498 (Três Meses em Calecut: Primeira Crónica dos Estados da Índia, 1498)
- The Chronicler: To live and believe in another time (O Cronista: Viver e Crer de Outro Tempo)
- Legends and Narratives, Volume 1 (Lendas e narrativas, 1.o tomo) 1851
Histories
- "History of Portugal from the beginning of the monarchy to the end of the reign of Afonso III" (História de Portugal: 1.a época, desde an origem da monarquia até D. Afonso III) 1846–1853
- "History of the origin and establishment of the Inquisition in Portugal" (História da Origem e Estabelecimento da Inquisição em Portugal) 1854–1859
- Historical Monuments of Portugal (Portugaliae Monumenta Historica) 1856–1873
Pamphlets
- Pamphlets: Public Questions, Volume 1 (Opúsculos: Questões Públicas, Tomo I)
- The Voice of the Prophet (A Voz do Profeta) 1837
- Theatre, Ethics, Censorship (Teatro, Moral, Censura) 1841
- The Exits (Os Egressos) 1842
- On the Economic System (Da Instituição das Caixas Económicas) 1844
- The Nuns of Lorvão (As Freiras de Lorvão) 1853
- The Condition of the Church's Records of the Kingdom (Do Estado dos Arquivos Eclesiásticos do Reino) 1857
- The Suppression of Lectures in the Barracks (A Supressão das Conferências do Casino) 1871
- Pamphlets: Public Questions, Volume 2 (Opúsculos: Questões Públicas, Tomo II)
- Patriotic Monuments (Monumentos Pátrios) 1838
- On Intellectual Property (Da Propriedade Literária) 1851–1852
- Letter to the Academy of Sciences (Carta à Academia das Ciências) 1856
- Mousinho da Silveira 1856
- Letter to the Members of the Cintra Club (Carta aos Eleitores do Círculo de Cintra) 1858
- Manifest of the Popular Association for the Advancement of Education of Women (Manifesto da Associação Popular Promotora da Educação do Sexo Feminino) 1858
- Pamphlets: Controversies and Historical Studies, Volume 1 (Opúsculos: Controvérsias e Estudos Históricos, Tomo I)
- The Battle of Ourique (A Batalha de Ourique):
- I. Me and the Clergy (Eu e o Clero) 1850
- II. Peaceful Considerations (Considerações Pacificas) 1850
- III. Solemn Words (Solemnia Verba) 1850
- IV. Solemn Words (Solemnia Verba) 1850
- V. The Science of an Arab Academic (A Ciência Arábico-Académica) 1851
- "Condition of the working classes on the peninsula from the seventh to the twelfth century" (Do estado das classes servas na Península, desde o VIII até o XII Século) 1858
- The Battle of Ourique (A Batalha de Ourique):
- Pamphlets: Public Questions, Volume 3 (Opúsculos: Questões Públicas, Tomo III)
- The Ties that Bind (Os Vínculos) 1856
- Immigration (A Emigração) 1870–1875
- Pamphlets: Controversies and Historical Studies, Volume 2 (Opúsculos: Controvérsias e Estudos Históricos, Tomo II)
- Portuguese historians (Historiadores portugueses) 1839–1840:
- Fernão Lopes
- Gomes Eanes de Azurara
- Vasco Fernandes de Lucena and Rui de Pina
- Garcia de Resende
- Letters about the History of Portugal (Cartas Sobre a História de Portugal) 1842
- Answer to the Criticisms of Vilhena Saldanha (Resposta às Censuras de Vilhena Saldanha) 1846
- Letter to the Editor of the Universal Review (Carta ao Redactor da Revista Universal)
- On the Existence and non-Existence of Feudalism in Portugal (Da Existência e não Existência do Feudalismo em Portugal) 1875–1877
- Explanations (Esclarecimentos):
- A. Gothic Destinies (Sortes Góticas)
- B. Feudalism (Feudo)
- Portuguese historians (Historiadores portugueses) 1839–1840:
- Pamphlets: Controversies and Historical Studies, Volume 4 (Opúsculos: Controvérsias e Estudos Históricos, Tomo IV)
- An Old Newtown (Uma Vila-Nova Antiga)
- Random Thoughts about an Obscure Man (Cogitações Soltas de um Homem Obscuro)
- Portuguese Archeology (Arqueologia Portuguesa):
- The Adventure of Cardinal Alexandrino (Viagem de Cardeal Alexandrino);
- Characteristic of Lisbon (Aspecto de Lisboa);
- The Adventure of Two Knights (Viagem dos Cavaleiros Tron e Lippomani)
- A Little Light in the Thick Darkness (Pouca luz em muitas trevas)
- Notes on the History of Royal Virtue (Apontamentos para a historia dos bens da coroa)
- Pamphlets: Public Questions, Volume 4 (Opúsculos: Questões Públicas, Tomo IV)
- Two Eras and Two Monuments, or the Royal Farm at Mafra (Duas Épocas e Dois Monumentos ou a Granja Real de Mafra)
- Brief Thoughts on Some Aspects of the Farm Economy (Breves Reflexões Sobre Alguns Pontos de Economia Agrícola)
- The Farm of Calhariz (A Granja do Calhariz)
- A Legal Project (Projecto de Decreto)
- Peace and the National Interest (O País e a Nação)
- Representation of Belém City Hall to the National Government (Representação da Câmara Municipal de Belém ao Governo)
- Representation of Belém City Hall to Parliament (Representação da Câmara Municipal de Belém ao Parlamento)
- Agricultural Subsidy Project (Projecto de Caixa de Socorros Agrícolas)
- On the Question of Forais (Sobre a Questão dos Forais)
- Pamphlets on Literature:
- What is the condition of our literature? What path will it take? (Qual é o Estado da Nossa Literatura? Qual é o Trilho que Ela Hoje Tem a Seguir?)
- Poetry: Imitation, Beauty, Unity (Poesia: Imitação—Belo—Unidade)
- Origins of Modern Theatre: Portuguese Theatre up to the End of the Sixteenth Century (Origens do Teatro Moderno: Teatro Português até aos Fins do Século XVI)
- Accounts of Portuguese Chivalry (Novelas de Cavalaria Portuguesas)
- History of Modern Theatre: Spanish Theatre (Historia do Teatro Moderno: Teatro Espanhol)
- Popular Portuguese Beliefs or Popular Superstitions (Crenças Populares Portuguesas ou Superstições Populares)
- The House of Gonzalo, a Comedy in Five Acts: An Opinion (A Casa de Gonçalo, Comédia em Cinco Actos: Parecer)
- Historic Praise for Sebastian Xavier Botelho (Elogio Histórico de Sebastião Xavier Botelho)
- Lady Maria Teles, a Drama in Five Acts: An Opinion (D. Maria Teles, Drama em Cinco Actos: Parecer)
- Lady Leonor de Almeida, Marquess of Alorna (D. Leonor de Almeida, Marquesa de Alorna)
Other works
- From the Isle of Jersey to Granville (De Jersey a Granville) 1831
- Estudos sobre o casamento civil: por occasião do opusculo do sr. Visconde de Seabra sobre este assumpto 1866 (Digitalized at Google)
Notes
References
- Ford, Jeremiah Denis Mathias (1910). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Endnotes:
- DE SERPA PIMENTEL, Herculano e o seu tempo (Lisbon, 1881)
- VON DÖLLINGER, Gedächtnisrede auf A. Herculano in his Akademische Vorträge
- ROMERO ORTIZ, La literatura portuguesa en el siglo XIX (Madrid, 1870)
- DE VASCONCELLOS, Portugiesische Litteratur in GROEBER, Grundriss der romanischen Philologie, vol. II, pt. II, pp. 372 sqq.
. In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
Attribution:
- public domain: Prestage, Edgar (1911). "Herculano de Carvalho e Araujo, Alexandre". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 344–345. Authorities cited:
- António de Serpa Pimentel, Alexandre Herculano e o seu tempo (Lisbon, 1881)
- A. Romero Ortiz, La Litteratura Portuguesa en el siglo XIX. (Madrid, 1869)
- Moniz Barreto, Revista de Portugal (July 1889)
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