Antonio de Guevara: "Let Them Descend into Hell Alive"
Introduction Antonio de Guevara (1481-1545) was born in Treceño, Cantabria, to a noble family. Thanks to the influence of his uncle, he was educated in the royal court of Castille, where--so he claimed--he served as page to Queen Isabella I (r. 1474-1504), la Reina Católica . Following her death, he entered the Franciscan Order, in 1505. After some official roles in the order, he returned to court, becoming court preacher to the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V (1500-1558), also known as Charles I of Spain, in 1521. He served the emperor in many capacities, including becoming his chronicler beginning in 1527. In 1528, he was named Bishop of Guadix, and then Bishop of Mondoñedo in 1537. He died in his diocese in 1545 and was buried in the cathedral of Mondoñedo. De Guevara was a prolific writer, especially during his time in court. Many of his books were about the courtly life, with his famous being the Dial of Princes (Reloj de príncipes) (...