Diego López de Cogolludo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diego López de Cogolludo
Born	1613
Died	1665  (aged 51–52)
Occupation	Historian

Diego López de Cogolludo was a Spanish Franciscan friar and historian. He was born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, in 1613 and passed away in New Spain (which is now Mexico) in 1665. He is best known for his important historical writings about the Yucatán region.

Life and Work of a Franciscan Historian

Early Life and Journey to Yucatán

Diego López de Cogolludo was born in a town called Alcalá de Henares in Spain. When he was about 16 years old, in 1629, he joined the Franciscan order. This meant he became a friar, dedicating his life to religious service.

Later, he traveled across the ocean to Yucatán, a region in what is now Mexico. There, he took on many important roles within his religious order. He taught theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. He also served as a "guardian," overseeing a local monastery, and eventually became the "provincial," which is a leader for all Franciscans in a large area.

Writing the History of Yucatán

Cogolludo's most famous work is a book called Historia de Yucatán. This book was published in Madrid, Spain, in 1688, after his death. It was so important that it was printed again many years later in 1842 and 1867.

What makes his book special is that he gathered information directly from people and old writings that no longer exist today. He used notes from Bishop Diego de Landa, another important historian of the region. However, modern historians sometimes look at some of Cogolludo's ideas carefully, as not all of his statements are fully accurate by today's standards.

Historia de Yucathan: A Look Inside

Engraved title page of Historia de Yucathan, published in 1688.

Cogolludo's book, Historia de Yucathan, is a detailed account of the region. It covers different aspects of Yucatán's past.

Spanish Conquest of Yucatán

The first part of the book, in its first three chapters, tells the story of how the Spanish arrived and took control of the Yucatán Peninsula. This was a long and difficult process. The Spanish had three main campaigns, or military efforts, to conquer the land and its people, the Maya. The first campaign began in 1527, led by Francisco de Montejo. His son, who had the same name, led the last campaign in 1545.

Describing the Maya People

Chapter four of the book describes the land of Yucatán and the customs and beliefs of the Maya people. Cogolludo had some interesting ideas about where the Maya came from. He thought they might have been related to ancient groups like the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians, who lived in the Mediterranean region a very long time ago.

The Role of the Franciscans

The rest of the book, which is six more chapters, focuses on the history of the Franciscan order in Yucatán. It explains how the Franciscans tried to teach the Maya people about Christianity and how they worked to convert them. It shows the progress and challenges they faced in their mission.

See also

In Spanish: Diego López de Cogolludo para niños

• Juan Coronel