Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos facts for kids
Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos (1555–1640) was a Spanish scholar and writer. He was born in Medina del Campo, a town in Valladolid province, Spain. He is best known for his important translation of the Roman historian Tacitus into Spanish.
Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos faced a difficult time in his life when he was imprisoned for nearly thirteen years. This happened because of his friendship with a powerful politician named Antonio Pérez. After his release, he gained high positions in the government thanks to the support of important figures like the Duke of Lerma and the Count-Duke of Olivares.
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The Life of Baltasar Alamos
Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos was born in Medina del Campo, Old Castile, around the mid-1500s. He studied law at the famous University of Salamanca. During his studies, he became good friends with Antonio Pérez, who was a very important government official.
Imprisonment and Release
Because of his friendship with Antonio Pérez, Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos was arrested in 1590. He was kept in prison for about twelve years. This was a very tough period for him.
In 1598, King Philip II died. In his will, the king ordered that Alamos should be set free. After his release, even though he didn't immediately get a job, he was looked upon kindly by government ministers. The Duke of Lerma even helped him financially.
Later Career and Death
When Philip IV became king, Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos's luck changed. With the help of the Count-Duke Olivares, who admired his skills, he got several important jobs at the royal court. He became a member of important councils, including the Council of the Indies.
Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos lived to be 88 years old. He passed away in 1640. He had several daughters, and one of them married a well-known writer.
His Famous Translation of Tacitus
Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos is most famous for his translation of the works of Tacitus. Tacitus was an ancient Roman historian known for his writings about the Roman Empire. Alamos began this translation project to help pass the time while he was in prison.
The Spanish Tacitus
His translation is considered the most complete version of Tacitus available in the Spanish language. Much of this work was done while he was still in prison. King Philip II even gave permission for parts of it to be published in 1594, four years before Alamos was freed.
Later, after his release, he translated other works by Tacitus, like Germania and Agricola. The complete translation was published in 1614 in Madrid. It was titled El Tacito Español illustrado con Aforismos, which means "The Spanish Tacitus illustrated with Aphorisms."
Aphorisms and Influence
Alamos's translation was special because it included his own "aphorisms" in the margins. Aphorisms are short, wise sayings that sum up the main point of the text. These aphorisms were later published separately in 1651. They were also translated into Italian.
Some scholars believe that later writers, like Thomas Gordon, used Alamos's work when writing their own commentaries on Tacitus. This shows how important and influential Baltasar Alamos de Barrientos's translation was.
See also
In Spanish: Baltasar Álamos de Barrientos para niños
