José Antonio Conde facts for kids

José Antonio Conde y García (born October 28, 1766 – died June 12, 1820) was a Spanish expert in Eastern cultures and a historian. He studied the history of Al-Andalus, which was the part of Spain ruled by Muslims long ago. His work on the ancient Greek poet Anacreon in 1791 helped him get a job at the royal library in 1795.

He also published several re-writings of classic Greek texts in his own words. Later, in 1799, he released an edition of an Arabic book called Description of Spain by Muhammad al-Idrisi. This book included his own notes and a translation. José Antonio Conde supported the French during a time of war in Spain. Because of this, he had to leave Spain in 1813. However, he came back a year later and eventually got his honors back. His most important work, a three-volume book about the history of Arab rule in Spain, was published after he died.

Who Was José Antonio Conde?

José Antonio Conde was an important Spanish scholar. He was known for his deep knowledge of Eastern languages and cultures. He also studied the history of the time when Arabs ruled parts of Spain. His work helped many people in the Western world learn more about Arabic texts and history.

Early Life and Education

José Antonio Conde was born in La Peraleja, a town in Cuenca, Spain, on October 28, 1766. He went to school at the university in Alcalá. He married a cousin of the famous writer Leandro Fernández de Moratin. Sadly, his wife passed away in September 1817 while giving birth.

A Life of Learning and Writing

In 1795, Conde published his translation of the works of the Greek poet Anacreon. Between 1796 and 1797, he published his own versions of poems by other Greek writers like Theocritus and Sappho.

In 1799, he released an important edition of an Arabic book. This was Muhammad al-Idrisi's Description of Spain. Conde added his own notes and a translation. This made him one of the first modern Western historians to translate such a major Arabic text. In 1802, he became a member of the Spanish Academy. He also joined the Academy of Sciences and Letters in Berlin.

Challenges and Return

In 1804, Conde was accepted into the Royal Academy of History. However, his life became difficult because he supported the French. He was appointed as an interpreter for Joseph Bonaparte, who was the king of Spain at the time because of French rule. People who supported the French were called afrancesados.

Because he was an afrancesado, he was removed from both the Academy of History and the Spanish Academy in 1814. He had to escape to France in 1813. But he came back to Spain a year later. He was not allowed to live in Madrid until 1816. Two years after that, in 1818, he was re-elected to his old positions in both academies.

José Antonio Conde passed away on June 12, 1820. He died without much money. His funeral costs were paid by his friends, including the American scholar George Ticknor and Spanish friends like Leandro Fernández de Moratín.

His Most Important Work

Conde's most important book was Historia de la Dominación de los Árabes en España. This means "History of the Arab Rule in Spain." It was published between 1820 and 1821. He only finished the first volume before he died. The other two volumes were put together from his notes by Juan Tineo.

This major work was translated into German (1824–1825), French (1825), and English (1854). Even though newer books have since updated some of its information, Conde's work was very valuable for its time. It also encouraged other scholars to study the same field.

Another important work by Conde was his translation and notes for Thekr al Andalus taleef Sherif Aledris / Descripción de España de Xerif Aledris, conocido por El Nubiense. This book was first published in Madrid in 1799.

See also

In Spanish: José Antonio Conde para niños