Antonio de Zayas facts for kids

Antonio de Zayas-Fernández de Córdoba y Beaumont (born September 3, 1871 – died April 23, 1945) was a Spanish diplomat and a talented writer. He was also a poet, known for being part of a literary style called Modernismo in the Hispanic world. Antonio de Zayas was born in Madrid and passed away in Málaga.

He held the title of the second Duke of Amalfi in the 20th century. This was a Spanish title brought back by Alfonso XIII of Spain. It was just a title and did not give him any power over the Italian city of Amalfi.

A Diplomat's Life

Antonio de Zayas came from an important family in Granada. He was good friends with famous writers like Manuel and Antonio Machado, and the actor Ricardo Calvo. He was part of the Modernism movement, which was a new way of thinking in art and literature. It went against the older, more traditional styles of the 1800s.

He joined other artists, like Valle-Inclán, to protest when Jose Echegaray won the Nobel Prize. Zayas also became friends with Juan Valera and Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo. He even wrote a tribute to Menéndez y Pelayo when he died in 1912.

Around 1907, Antonio de Zayas translated an important book called Los Trofeos (The Trophies) by Jose Maria de Heredia. As a diplomat, he lived in many different cities around the world. He spent time in Istanbul, a city he wrote about in his memoirs. His travels also took him to Stockholm, St Petersburg, Bucharest, Berlin, and Mexico.

He received high honors from other countries. The King of Sweden gave him the Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star. He also received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown from Romania.

In 1926, he was stationed in Buenos Aires. However, in February 1927, he had to leave his post suddenly. This happened because he protested with the aviator Ramón Franco about a new airline between France and Argentina. Spain had been slow to set up its own airline. This protest led to Ramon Franco's arrest and Zayas being removed from his diplomatic role.

During the Spanish Civil War, Antonio de Zayas worked as a diplomat in the Royal Legation of Romania. He passed away in Málaga in 1945 due to a health issue. His nephew became the fifth Duke of Amalfi after him.

His Writing Career

Antonio de Zayas's first book was Poesías (Poems), published in 1892. It had a traditional, Romantic style from the 1800s. Later, he published Joyeles bizantinos (Byzantine Jewels) in 1902. In the same year, Retratos antiguos (Old Portraits) came out.

In 1903, he released Paisajes (Landscapes). This book showed his interest in symbolism. It focused on painting the feelings and soul, rather than just the outside world. Noches blancas (White Nights) and Leyenda (Legend) were published in 1905 and 1906. These books often celebrated Spain's history, which became a common theme in his later works. They showed his strong command of language and his skill in writing poetry.

After 1907, Antonio de Zayas changed his writing style. He moved away from the more modern trends. Instead, he focused on defending what he called "country tradition." He used an older style of writing. Antonio de Zayas did not like foreign or overly modern styles. He preferred traditional Spanish ideas for patriotic, moral, and religious reasons.

His last published works included Plus Ultra (Ultra Plus) in 1924. He also wrote Epinicios, segunda serie (Triumphant Hymns, second series) in 1926. His final book was Ante el altar y en la lid (Before the Altar and in the Fray) in 1942.

His Works

• Poesías (1892) - (Poems).
• A orillas del Bósforo. (On the shores of the Bosphorous) A travel book.
• Joyeles bizantinos (1902) - (Byzantine jewels).
• Retratos antiguos (1902) - (Old Portraits).
• Noches blancas (1905) - (White Nights).
• Leyenda (1906) - (Legend).
• Ensayos de crítica histórica y literaria (1907) - (Attempts at historical and literary criticism).
• Epinicios: Poesías (1912) - (Triumphant hymns).
• Plus Ultra: Poesías (1924) - (Ultra Plus).
• Epinicios, segunda serie (1926) - (Triumphant hymns, second series).
• Ante el altar y en la lid (1942) - (Before the altar and in the fray).
• El Conde Duque de Olivares y la decadencia española: Conferencia dada en el Ateneo de Madrid el día 4 de junio de 1895 - The Count-Duke of Olivares and Spanish decadence: Talk given at the Ateneo in Madrid on June 4, 1895.

See Also

In Spanish: Antonio de Zayas para niños