Andrés González de Barcia facts for kids

Andrés González de Barcia was an important Spanish historian who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries. He was born in 1673 in Madrid, Spain, and passed away on November 4, 1743, also in Madrid. He is best known for being one of the people who helped start the Royal Spanish Academy, a very important group that works to keep the Spanish language strong and correct.

A Founder of the Royal Spanish Academy

Andrés González de Barcia played a key role in creating the Royal Spanish Academy. This academy was founded in 1713. Its main goal was to make sure the Spanish language was used correctly and to create a dictionary and grammar rules. Being a founder meant he helped shape how the Spanish language would be studied and preserved for future generations. He held "Seat D" in the academy from its beginning until his death.

His Work as a Historian

González de Barcia was a dedicated historian. He spent a lot of time studying and publishing old texts. Many of these texts were about the history of the Americas, especially the early days of exploration and conquest. He helped make these important historical documents available to more people.

Books He Published

He published several significant works during his lifetime and even more were released after he died. Here are some examples of the types of books he worked on:

• Ensayo cronologico para la historia general de la Florida (1723): This book was a timeline of the general history of Florida. It helped people understand the past events in that region.
• First Historians of the West Indies (published in 1749, after his death): This was a collection of writings from early historians who wrote about the West Indies. It was a big project, published in three large volumes.

Important Texts He Edited

González de Barcia also edited and republished many other important historical books. By editing, he made sure these older texts were clear and accurate for new readers. Some of the authors whose works he edited include:

• Fernando de Herrera: He edited Herrera's Décadas between 1725 and 1730.
• Garcilaso de la Vega (El Inca): He worked on La Florida (1723) and Comentarios reales de los Incas (1723). These books are important for understanding the history of the Inca Empire and Florida.
• Fray Juan de Torquemada: He edited Torquemada's work, which focused on the history of Mexico.
• Antonio de Solís: He edited Historia de la conquista de México (1732), a famous account of the conquest of Mexico.
• Alonso de Ercilla: He edited La Araucana (1733), an epic poem about the Spanish conquest of Chile.

Posthumous Publications

After his death, even more of his edited works were published in 1749. These included:

• Fernando de Colón's Historia del Almirante Colón: This was a history of Christopher Columbus.
• Hernán Cortés's Cartas de relación: These were letters written by Hernán Cortés, describing the conquest of Mexico.
• Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca's Relación de la jornada que hizo a la Florida con el adelantado Pánfilo de Narvaez: This was an account of a journey to Florida.

Andrés González de Barcia's work helped preserve and share many valuable historical documents, especially those about the early history of the Americas. His efforts were crucial for future historians and for understanding the past.

See Also

In Spanish: Andrés González de Barcia para niños