Bernardim Ribeiro
Bernardim Ribeiro was a notable Portuguese poet and prose writer, born around 1482 in Torrão, Portugal. He came from a family with ties to the royal court, as his father served as a treasurer for the Duke de Viseu. Ribeiro's life was marked by personal upheaval, including a forced exile following his father's involvement in a conspiracy against King John II, which deeply influenced his emotional and literary output. He studied law in Lisbon and became known for his romantic, pastoral poetry, characterized by themes of longing and melancholy, notably contributing to the Portuguese literary tradition of "saudade."
Ribeiro's most famous works include five eclogues that capture the serene lives of shepherds and the prose romance *Hystoria de Menina e Moça*, which blends chivalric and melancholic elements to explore a tragic love affair. His innovative approach to prose earned him acclaim as a Renaissance master, despite controversy regarding the intimate topics he addressed. After several years in Italy, he returned to Portugal, serving as secretary to King John III before his death in 1552. Ribeiro's legacy remains significant in the development of Portuguese literature, reflecting both his personal struggles and the broader cultural shifts of his time.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Bernardim Ribeiro
Poet
- Born: c. 1482
- Birthplace: Torrão, Portugal
- Died: October 1, 1552
- Place of death: Lisbon, Portugal
Biography
Portuguese poet and prose writer Bernardim Ribeiro was born in Torrão, Portugal, around 1482. His father, Damiao Ribeiro, was a treasurer in the household of the Duke de Viseu. Later on, he was implicated in a conspiracy against John II of Portugal. Ribeiro and his mother had to take refuge with relatives, and did not return to his hometown until Manuel I became king. From 1507 to 1512, Ribeiro studied law at the university in Lisbon. He often mingled with the court of King Manuel I; according to rumor, he fell madly in love with, and was subsequently rejected by, one of the court ladies. This event is perhaps the source of the wistful melancholy that permeates his poetry and prose.
Ribeiro allegedly had a few love affairs gone awry that served as subject matter for his poetry. The woman with whom he fell in love was forbidden from seeing Ribeiro, and was secluded in a convent. During her stay there, she developed a form of insanity and eventually died there. There is speculation that Ribeiro visited her at the convent resulting in a child. Supposedly he was exiled for his conduct and stripped of his position. The content of his most famous work may be credited to this period in his life.
Ribeiro is known for introducing a romantic, pastoral style to Portuguese literature. He was the author of five eclogues that depict rustic scenes and describe the peaceful, bucolic lives of shepherds. His poetic work helped bring about the Portuguese literary tradition of the saudade, or poem of longing. He also wrote an innovative prose romance, published from 1554 to 1557, the Hystoria de Menina e Moça (the story of child and damsel). It mournfully describes a doomed love affair; part chivalric tale and part melancholic romance, it incorporated elements previously found only in poetry. Hailed by many critics as a Renaissance masterpiece, this lyrical work profoundly influenced the stylistic development and future direction of Portuguese literature. However, this great story is not without controversy. The book talks descriptively about things that only women were privy to (dying during childbirth and spinning late into the night).
He lived in Italy for several years before returning to Portugal in 1524, at which time he was made secretary to King John III. Ribeiro suffered from a mental disorder during his final years. He died in Lisbon in October, 1552.