Bernardim Ribeiro
Bernardim Ribeiro was born in 1482 within the village of Torrão, located in the Alentejo region. His father Damião Ribeiro faced severe consequences for his involvement in a conspiracy against King John II during 1484. The family had to flee to Castile while young Bernardim and his mother sought refuge with relatives António and Inês Zagalo at Quinta dos Lobos near Sintra. When Manuel I ascended the Portuguese throne in 1495 he rehabilitated families previously persecuted by his predecessor. This political shift allowed Ribeiro to leave his retreat and return to Torrão. Meanwhile Dona Inès married a wealthy landowner from Estremoz and received a court appointment in 1503 as an attendant to Infanta Beatriz.
Ribeiro accompanied Dona Inès to court where her influence secured royal protection for him. The king sent him to the University of Lisbon where he studied law from 1506 until 1512. Upon obtaining his degree in law the king appointed him secretary and bestowed upon him the habit of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword. His poetic career began with his arrival at court and early verses appeared in the collection of Garcia de Resende. He participated in historic palace evening entertainments that consisted largely of poetical improvisations. There he met poets Sá de Miranda and Cristóvão Falcão who became his literary comrades and confidantes.
Ribeiro had conceived a violent passion for his cousin Dona Joana Zagalo daughter of his protector Dona Inês. Her family opposed her marriage to a singer and dreamer with small means and prospects. They finally compelled her to wed a rich man named Pero Gato. When Gato died shortly afterwards Joanna retired to a country house where it was rumored Ribeiro visited. In 1521 she went into seclusion in the convent of St Clare at Estremoz where she died some years later. It was alleged that Ribeiro's conduct caused a scandal which led the king to deprive him of his office and exile him.
Hopeless of the future and broken in spirit Ribeiro decided to go to Italy. He started early in 1522 traveling widely across the peninsula. During his stay he wrote his moving knightly and pastoral romance mostly known as Mensagem da Pastora Aónia. The work related the story of his unfortunate passion while personifying himself under the anagram Bimnarder and Dona Inês under Aonia. The title translates as Maiden and Modest and is regarded as one of the finest examples of the genre of pastoral romance in Renaissance literature. He also poured out his heart in five eclogues written in popular octosyllabic verse.
When he returned home in 1524 the new king John III restored him to his former post. It is said that he paid a last visit to his love at St Clare's convent and found her in a fit of madness. From that time his mental powers declined significantly. About 1534 he suffered a long illness and continued to decline until his death. He was unable to fulfill the duties of his office so in 1549 the king bestowed upon him a pension for his support. He did not live long to enjoy it as in 1552 he died at All Saints Hospital in Lisbon.
The romance was not printed until after Ribeiro's death and then first appeared in Ferrara in 1554. On its appearance the book made such a sensation that its reading was forbidden because it disclosed a family tragedy which the allegory could not hide. The work is divided into two parts with the first certainly being the work of Ribeiro. However opinion has been divided on the second part. One edition of the first part was made by Dr José Pessanha in Oporto during 1891 while a more current edition appeared in 2012. Ribeiro's verses including his five eclogues were reprinted in a limited edition by Dr Xavier da Cunha in Lisbon during 1886.
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Common questions
When was Bernardim Ribeiro born and where did he grow up?
Bernardim Ribeiro was born in 1482 within the village of Torrão located in the Alentejo region. His family fled to Castile after his father Damião Ribeiro faced severe consequences for involvement in a conspiracy against King John II during 1484.
What education did Bernardim Ribeiro receive at the University of Lisbon?
The king sent Bernardim Ribeiro to the University of Lisbon where he studied law from 1506 until 1512. Upon obtaining his degree in law the king appointed him secretary and bestowed upon him the habit of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword.
Why was Bernardim Ribeiro exiled from Portugal in 1521?
It was alleged that Bernardim Ribeiro's conduct caused a scandal which led the king to deprive him of his office and exile him. This followed events involving his cousin Dona Joana Zagalo who went into seclusion in the convent of St Clare at Estremoz in 1521.
Where did Bernardim Ribeiro write Mensagem da Pastora Aónia?
Bernardim Ribeiro wrote Mensagem da Pastora Aónia while traveling widely across Italy starting early in 1522. The work related the story of his unfortunate passion while personifying himself under the anagram Bimnarder and Dona Inês under Aonia.
When did Bernardim Ribeiro die and what pension did King John III grant him?
Bernardim Ribeiro died in 1552 at All Saints Hospital in Lisbon after suffering a long illness about 1534. He could not fulfill the duties of his office so in 1549 the king bestowed upon him a pension for his support.