José María Asensio facts for kids

José María Asensio Toledo (born August 14, 1829 – died December 14, 1905) was an important Spanish historian, journalist, biographer, and writer. He spent his life studying and writing about the past. He was especially interested in famous Spanish figures like Miguel de Cervantes and Christopher Columbus.

A Life Dedicated to History

José María Asensio Toledo was born in Seville, Spain. From a young age, he loved learning about history. He grew up to become a respected expert on Spain's past. He shared his knowledge through many books and articles.

What Did He Do?

José María Asensio had several important roles:

• Historian: He studied events and people from the past. He wrote many detailed accounts of Spanish history.
• Journalist: He wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. This helped him share his ideas with many readers.
• Biographer: He wrote life stories of famous people. He made sure to include many facts and details.
• Writer: This is a general term for someone who creates books or articles. He was a very productive writer.

His Contributions to Spanish Culture

José María Asensio was known for his careful research. He often looked for new documents to support his writings. This made his historical works very reliable.

Focus on Famous Figures

He wrote a lot about two very famous people:

• Miguel de Cervantes: This was the writer of Don Quixote. Asensio wrote several books about Cervantes' life and works. He even found new information about him.
• Christopher Columbus: This explorer discovered America. Asensio wrote about Columbus's life and his famous voyages. He also researched where Columbus's remains were.

Other Historical Interests

Asensio also wrote about other important figures and topics. He explored the life of Pedro I of Castile, a king of Spain. He also studied Martín Alonso Pinzón, a navigator who sailed with Columbus. His works helped people understand Spanish history better.

Member of the Royal Spanish Academy

José María Asensio Toledo was a member of the Real Academia Española. This is a very important group in Spain. Its main job is to protect and improve the Spanish language. Being a member showed how much his work was valued. He held Seat 'C' in the Academy from 1904 until his death in 1905.

His Published Works

José María Asensio wrote many books and articles. Here are some examples of his important works:

• The Conde de Lemos, protector of Cervantes (1880)
• New documents to illustrate the life of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1864)
• Cervantes and his works. Articles. (1902)
• Christopher Columbus, his life, his travels
• The remains of Christopher Columbus are in Havana. Proof by José María Asensio. (1881)
• Martin Alonso Pinzon: historical study (1892)
• Fernan Caballero: biographical study (1900)

His writings helped many people learn about Spanish history and literature. He left behind a valuable collection of historical research.

See also

In Spanish: José María Asensio para niños