António Cordeiro
Encyclopedia
António Cordeiro was a Catholic priest in the Society of Jesus
, Azorean
historian
, author of the classical chronicle Historia Insulana, and first to publish a public opinion on the form of governance for the archipelago of the Azores
.
wife Maria Espinosa.
His primary studies, and classes in the humanities, occurred in the city of Angra
, and he showed an exceptional intellect. Although he was their youngest child, his parents decided to send him to study at the University of Coimbra, where one of his brothers already studied.
In 1656, with less than 15 years of age, he departed for Lisbon
on board a warship in a flotilla commanded by General António Teles de Menezes. On reaching the Portuguese coast, the armada was forced into combat against a Spanish
squadron, where he and his brother, Pedro Cordeiro de Espinosa were taken prisoners. Seventeen days later the enemy brig came under attack from an English
ship, and the Spanish captain was forced to retreat to Cadiz
for repairs. While in Cadiz, young António attempted to escape, but was caught. Aside from being physically punished, he was brought before the supreme commander of Spanish forces, the Duke of Medinaceli, who was impressed by his brilhant oratory, and granted him safe passage to Portugal
.
But, his problems did not end when he returned to Portugal: on crossing the Algarve he was confronted with an outbreak of plague, and upon arriving in Setúbal
, he was detained and placed in quarantine
.
in the Colégio of the Society of Jesus
, where he was an exceptional student. He completed his course on June 12, 1657, and joined the Society, and shortly after, entered training to become a Canon
at the University of Coimbra. He completed his university studies in 1676, beginning immediately his career as Master of the Society of Jesus
, and professor at Coimbra.
, and until 1696 he taught scholastic and moral theology
. In 1696, he was transferred to Braga
, where he was professor at the Colégio da Companhia, another branch of the Society. From Braga he went to the Colégio in Oporto, where he remained for eight years, until he was assigned to the Colégio de Santo Antão, in Lisbon, where remained until his death.
In addition to his work as professor in the Society of Jesus, he was a renowned orator, who traveled between diocese
s in catechism
missions and introducing reforms organized by the Jesuits; he was a regular on the "circuit" between Braga, Viseu
, Pinhel
, Torres Novas
and other places.
He also collaborated with the University of Évora
, and other colégios of the Society, winning fame for his great intellect. D. José de Barbosa, on the publication of Cordeiro's História Insulana affirmed:
, which were held in the possession of the Society of Jesus. From consulting Frutuoso's works he began to write his Historia Insulana, that described the history of the Azores. It was the first work to be edited, and published: it became a fundamental text on Azorean history, even as Frutuoso's Saudades da Terra was inaccessible and parts uncompleted until the end of the 20th Century. For those reasons, the Insulana constituted the most complete resource that indirectly accessed Frutuoso's work.
Father António Cordeiro died in the Colégio de Santo Antão, in Lisbon on February 2, 1722
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...
, Azorean
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
historian
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, author of the classical chronicle Historia Insulana, and first to publish a public opinion on the form of governance for the archipelago of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
Biography
António was the sixth and final child of António Cordeiro Moitoso and his GraciosenseGraciosa
Graciosa Island is referred to as the White Island, the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of 60.65 km², a length of 10 km and a width of 7 km...
wife Maria Espinosa.
His primary studies, and classes in the humanities, occurred in the city of Angra
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
, and he showed an exceptional intellect. Although he was their youngest child, his parents decided to send him to study at the University of Coimbra, where one of his brothers already studied.
In 1656, with less than 15 years of age, he departed for Lisbon
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...
on board a warship in a flotilla commanded by General António Teles de Menezes. On reaching the Portuguese coast, the armada was forced into combat against a Spanish
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...
squadron, where he and his brother, Pedro Cordeiro de Espinosa were taken prisoners. Seventeen days later the enemy brig came under attack from an English
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...
ship, and the Spanish captain was forced to retreat to Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
for repairs. While in Cadiz, young António attempted to escape, but was caught. Aside from being physically punished, he was brought before the supreme commander of Spanish forces, the Duke of Medinaceli, who was impressed by his brilhant oratory, and granted him safe passage to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
But, his problems did not end when he returned to Portugal: on crossing the Algarve he was confronted with an outbreak of plague, and upon arriving in Setúbal
Setúbal
Setúbal is the main city in Setúbal Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.0 km² and a total population of 118,696 inhabitants in the municipality. The city proper has 89,303 inhabitants....
, he was detained and placed in quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
.
Education
He finally arrived in Coimbra, and began his studies, where he studied philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in the Colégio 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...
, where he was an exceptional student. He completed his course on June 12, 1657, and joined the Society, and shortly after, entered training to become a 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 University of Coimbra. He completed his university studies in 1676, beginning immediately his career as Master 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...
, and professor at Coimbra.
Canon
Between 1676 and 1680 he taught philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, and until 1696 he taught scholastic and moral theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. In 1696, he was transferred to Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
, where he was professor at the Colégio da Companhia, another branch of the Society. From Braga he went to the Colégio in Oporto, where he remained for eight years, until he was assigned to the Colégio de Santo Antão, in Lisbon, where remained until his death.
In addition to his work as professor in the Society of Jesus, he was a renowned orator, who traveled between diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s in catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
missions and introducing reforms organized by the Jesuits; he was a regular on the "circuit" between Braga, Viseu
Viseu
Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250...
, Pinhel
Pinhel
Pinhel is a municipality in Centro Region, Beira Interior Norte Subregion, Portugal with a total area of 484.5 km² and a total population of 10,436 inhabitants.The city of Pinhel has about 3.500 inhabitants....
, Torres Novas
Torres Novas
Torres Novas is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 270.0 km² and a total population of 37,155 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 17 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém. The city of Torres Novas has about 15,000 inhabitants. This city has a castle...
and other places.
He also collaborated with the University of Évora
University of Évora
The University of Évora is a public university in Évora, Portugal.-History:The University of Évora, the second oldest in Portugal, was founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Infante Dom Henrique , and by the Pope Paul IV, and it was delivered to the Society of Jesus.The Jesuit college...
, and other colégios of the Society, winning fame for his great intellect. D. José de Barbosa, on the publication of Cordeiro's História Insulana affirmed:
- "...he was a ray that proceeded that of the Sun...illuminating, with his doctrine, the Universities of Coimbra and Évora, the studies of Braga, Lisbon and Oporto, and, not content to reveal the science with subtle novelty, began a life of an apostle on the fervent missions to Viseu, Pinhel, Torres Novas and many other settlements, who even today...look to documents of his piety."
Historia Insulana
He dedicated himself to the history of the Azores, aided by the manuscripts of Gaspar FrutuosoGaspar Frutuoso
Gaspar Frutuoso was a Portuguese priest, historian and humanist from the island of São Miguel, in the Azores...
, which were held in the possession of the Society of Jesus. From consulting Frutuoso's works he began to write his Historia Insulana, that described the history of the Azores. It was the first work to be edited, and published: it became a fundamental text on Azorean history, even as Frutuoso's Saudades da Terra was inaccessible and parts uncompleted until the end of the 20th Century. For those reasons, the Insulana constituted the most complete resource that indirectly accessed Frutuoso's work.
Father António Cordeiro died in the Colégio de Santo Antão, in Lisbon on February 2, 1722
Published works
Although he was known to be a prolific author, his most remembered works were the following:- Moral Teológica (1696)
- Cursus Philosophicus Conimbricensis (1714)
- In Proecipium Partium D. Thomae Theologia Scholastica (1716)
- Historia Insulana das Ilhas a Portugal Sujeitas no Oceano Ocidental (1717)