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CASTILLO, Bernardo Diaz del,
soldier, born in Medina-del-Campo, Spain, toward the end of the
15th century; died in Mexico. He was one of the adventurers that accompanied
Cortez to Mexico in 1519, where he distinguished himself by his bravery. He
remained in the country after the conquest, having been allotted extensive
lands. He says in his work that he had taken part in one hundred and nineteen
battles, and had been so habituated to sleep in his armor that even in time of
peace he could not lay it aside at night.
On reading the "Chronicle of Gomara" (1552), he determined
to become an author, being indignant that that writer had not mentioned either
himself or his companions, but had attributed all the glory to Cortez. His book
was not published until long after his death, when a monk of the order of Mercy
discovered it hidden away in a library. Its title is
"Historia verdadera de la Conquista de Nueva Españia" (Madrid, 1632).
Although Castillo's style is that of an unlettered soldier,
his work is full of interesting details. He estimates the Indian population as
much less than in the history of Gomara, and does not diminish the losses of the
Spaniards. He has been accused of jealousy of Cortez, which would render him
partial; but he only blames that leader when his acts were really culpable, and
in some eases he even tries to defend them.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
CASTILLO, Bernardo Diaz del, soldier, born in Medina-del-Campo, Spain, toward the end of the 15th century; died in Mexico. He was one of the adventurers that accompanied Cortds to Mexico in 1519, where he distinguished himself by his bravery. He remained in the country after the conquest, having been allotted extensive lands. He says in his work that he had taken part in one hundred and nineteen battles, and had been so habituated to sleep in his armor that even in time of peace he could not lay it aside at night. On reading the "Chronicle of Gomara" (1552), he determined to become an author, being indignant that that writer had not mentioned either himself or his companions, but had attributed all the glory to Cortds. His book was not published until long after his death, when a monk of the order of Mercy discovered it hidden away in a library. Its title is " Historia verdadera de la Conquista de Nueva Espafia" (Madrid, 1632). Although Cas-tillo's style is that of an unlettered soldier, his work is full of interesting details. He estimates the Indian population as much less than in the history of Gomara, and does not diminish the losses of the Spaniards. He has been accused of jealousy of Cortds, which would render him partial; but he only blames that leader when his acts were really culpable, and in some eases he even tries to defend them.
