Antonio del Corro facts for kids

Antonio del Corro (1527 in Seville, Spain – 1591 in London, England) was a Spanish monk who changed his religion to become a Protestant. He was a well-known preacher and religious thinker who taught at the University of Oxford. He also wrote the first Spanish grammar book in English.

Life in Spain and Moving Away

Antonio del Corro was a monk in a monastery in Seville, Spain. He learned about Protestant ideas from people like Martin Luther and Heinrich Bullinger. These ideas were different from the Catholic beliefs common in Spain at the time.

Facing the Inquisition

In 1557, he left Spain with others because he was afraid of the Spanish Inquisition. The Inquisition was a powerful group that investigated and punished people who did not follow Catholic teachings. Some people think Antonio del Corro might have written a famous book in 1567 that exposed the secrets of the Spanish Inquisition. However, others believe another scholar, Casiodoro de Reina, wrote it.

Traveling Across Europe

After leaving Spain, Antonio del Corro traveled to Lausanne and Geneva. He had some disagreements with Jean Calvin, a very important Protestant leader. Even so, Calvin recommended him to become a tutor for Henry of Navarre, who later became a king of France.

In France, Antonio del Corro used the name Bellerive. He worked as a minister in a region called Béarn. He received support from powerful women like Jeanne d'Albret and Renée of France, who even made him her personal chaplain.

Later, he became a pastor for the Spanish church in Antwerp, a city in Belgium. However, he again had some disagreements there.

Life in England

Antonio del Corro moved to England between 1567 and 1570 and made it his home. With the help of important people like William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, he became a pastor of the Spanish church in London from 1568 to 1570. He also gave lectures at the Temple Church from 1571 to 1574. Later, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, became another important supporter.

In England, del Corro started to change his religious views. He became more open-minded and even challenged some common beliefs, which led to many debates. He moved away from the idea of predestination, which is the belief that God has already decided everything that will happen. This change caused him to be criticized by other religious leaders.

Teaching at Oxford

His new views also caused controversy when he went to Oxford. He taught and tutored students at several colleges, including Hart Hall and St John's College, Oxford. In 1578, he became a theology reader at the university. However, another scholar, John Rainolds, disagreed with his ideas and stopped him from getting a higher degree in 1576. Antonio del Corro continued to believe in free will, meaning people could choose their own path.

Among his students at Oxford were the famous poet John Donne.

The Spanish Grammar Book

In 1586, Antonio del Corro published a grammar book in Oxford to teach Spanish to French speakers. In 1590, this book was translated into English by John Thorie and became known as The Spanish Grammar.

A modern historian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, has noted that Antonio del Corro made some careful statements that suggested he believed in Unitarianism. This is a belief that God is one being, not three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Despite these views, he lived comfortably until the end of his life as a religious leader at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

See also

In Spanish: Antonio del Corro para niños