Florencio del Castillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florencio del Castillo
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| Born | October 17, 1778 |
| Died | November 26, 1834 (aged 56) Oaxaca, Mexico
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| Nationality | Spanish (1778-1821); First Mexican Empire (1821-1823); Federal Republic of Central America (1823-1834) |
| Occupation | Cleric and politician. |
Florencio del Castillo (born October 17, 1778, died November 26, 1834) was an important Costa Rican priest and politician. He is remembered for fighting for the rights of people in Central America during a time of big changes.
Contents
Florencio del Castillo's Early Life
Florencio del Castillo was born on October 17, 1778. His birthplace was Ujarrás, a town near Cartago. At that time, Cartago was the main city of the Province of Costa Rica. This area was part of a larger Spanish territory called New Spain.
He was the third child of Cecilia del Castillo y Villagra. Florencio grew up in a friary, which is a type of monastery, called Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception de Rescate de Ujarrás. There, he worked hard, cleaning and serving as an altar boy.
Becoming a Priest and Professor
Florencio's mother came from an important family in Costa Rica. She had enough money to send him to study at the Seminario Conciliar in León, Nicaragua. This school later became the University of León, Nicaragua. Florencio wanted to become a priest.
He was very smart and had an excellent record. In 1802, he passed his exams with flying colors and earned a special degree called a baccalaureate. He was then ordained as a Catholic priest. The very next year, he was already teaching geometry at the same university.
Returning to Costa Rica and Nicaragua
In 1806, Florencio del Castillo returned to Costa Rica. He was already famous for his achievements in Nicaragua. He became the pastor of a new town called Villahermosa, which later became Alajuela.
However, he wanted to do more. So, in 1808, he went back to León. He joined the Tridentine University and quickly became a professor of philosophy. He was very good at this subject. Soon, he took on even more important roles, like examiner and vice-rector.
Chosen to Represent Costa Rica
Because of his quick rise and strong reputation, Florencio del Castillo was chosen for a very important job. In 1810, Spain was in trouble. The powerful French leader Napoleon had invaded the country. To help save Spain, a special meeting was called in Spain, known as the Cortes of Cádiz.
Costa Rica needed someone to represent them at this meeting. Florencio del Castillo was one of the top choices, along with Friar José Antonio Taboada and José María Zamora.
Deputy to the Cortes of Cádiz
In 1810, Florencio del Castillo traveled to Spain to represent Costa Rica at the Cortes of Cádiz. He was known for his amazing speaking skills. People even called him the "American Mirabeau" because of his powerful speeches.
He worked very hard to help the Indigenous people and Black people. He successfully fought to end unfair practices like the Mita, the Encomienda, and the Repartimiento. These were systems that forced people to work or pay tribute. He also spoke out against other types of unfair treatment based on race.
Florencio del Castillo even served as the president of the Cortes for a short time. He continued to represent Costa Rica in similar meetings from 1813 to 1814. These meetings ended when King Fernando VII took back power.
Deputy in Mexico
After the Cortes meetings ended, Florencio del Castillo moved to Mexico. In 1822, he represented Costa Rica in the Constituent Congress. This was a meeting to create a new government for Mexico.
Later, he became a member of the Council of State for Emperor Agustín I.
Florencio del Castillo's Legacy and Death
Florencio del Castillo passed away in Oaxaca, Mexico, on November 26, 1834. At the time, he was an important priest, serving as a canon and administrator for the local church.
In 1971, his remains were brought back to Costa Rica. They were placed in a special monument in the central park of Paraíso. This town is close to his birthplace of Ujarrás. Sadly, his remains were stolen in September 2011.
The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica honored him as a "Benemérito de la Patria". This means "Worthy Citizen of the Fatherland." A major highway between San José and Cartago is named after him.
In 1971, the Mexican State of Oaxaca also honored Florencio del Castillo. They gave him a special medal after his death for all his great efforts.
See also
In Spanish: Florencio del Castillo para niños
