Francisco de Gómara López

Background

He was born at Gómara, Soria, Spain in 1510 or 1511.

Education

He studied at the University of Alcalá and was later ordained priest.

Career

He traveled in Italy during 1531 and there met many Renaissance scholars. It is probable that he did not return to Spain until 1540. It was at the siege of Algiers in that year that Gómara met Hernan Cortés. The meeting led to the appointment of the priest as chaplain of Cortés family. In this environment Gómara composed his Hispania victrix: historia general de las Indias, first published in Zaragoza in 1552. The work reflects the author's sound training and Renaissance contacts. The first part, a general account to the year 1552, is written clearly and accurately, and is a masterpiece of exposition. The second part, a detailed story of the conquest of Mexico, still retains the style, but is marred by the presentation of Cortés as a superman. The work was highly popular but distasteful to Philip II, who ordered all editions suppressed on Nov. 17, 1553. Persistent efforts were made to confiscate all copies. The ban on the Historia was not lifted until 1727.

Gómara also wrote a Crónica de los muy nombrados omiche y haradin Barbarrojas, and Anales del Emperador Carlos Quinto (to 1556). The last work, edited and translated by R. Merriman (1912), was apparently an effort to regain royal favor through excessive praise of the Emperor.

Achievements

• He is known for his work Historia general de las Indias, in which he described the early 16th century expedition undertaken by Hernán Cortés in the Spanish conquest of the New World. He had firsthand access to Cortés and others of the returning conquistadores as the sources of his account.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Historia General de las Indias (Spanish Edition)

    (Francisco López de Gómara (1511 - 1566), fue un eclesiást...)

  • Cortes: The Life of the Conqueror by His Secretary

    (Clean solid copy.)