Alonso de Villegas facts for kids
Alonso de Villegas Selvago (born in Toledo in 1533, died there on January 23, 1603) was a Spanish writer and a church official. He was also known simply as Selvago. This might have been a second family name, possibly from Genoa.
Life of Alonso de Villegas
Alonso de Villegas spent almost his entire life in Toledo, Spain. He was a student and later a professor of theology at the University of Toledo. Theology is the study of religious faith and God.
He also served as a chaplain in the cathedral in Toledo. A chaplain is a minister or priest who serves a specific institution. He was baptized in the churches of San Sebastián and San Marcos in the same city.
Main Works and Writings
Alonso de Villegas wrote several important books. His works covered different topics, from plays to stories about saints.
Flos sanctorum
One of his most famous works is the Flos sanctorum. This title means "Flower of the Saints." It was a large collection of stories about the lives of various saints, published in six volumes.
- In this collection, Villegas wrote about Saint Irene. Her story was based on a popular legend from the Iberian Peninsula called La margarita del Tajo.
- He also included a story about the death of the Greek god Pan. This story was inspired by the ancient writer Plutarch. It described Pan's death happening around the time Jesus was born.
Other Writings
Villegas also wrote other interesting books:
- Comedia llamada Selvagia (1554): This was a play about the love story between a knight named Selvago and a noble lady called Ysabela.
- Life of San Isidro Labrador (1592): This book told the story of Saint Isidore the Laborer.
- Life of San Tirso (1592): This was a biography of Saint Tirso.
Some of Villegas's other writings, including a collection of stories, have unfortunately been lost over time.
See also
In Spanish: Alonso de Villegas para niños
