Miguel de Olivares - A Stan Klos Website
OLIVARES, Miguel de (o-lee-vah'-res), Chilean
author, born in Chillan in 1675; died in Imola, Italy, about 1768. He entered
the Jesuit society, became a missionary, and as such began about 1701 to travel
through the territories of Quillota, Polpaico, Tiltil, Limache, and others. From
1712 till 1720 he directed the missions of Nahuelhuapi and Calubco, and in 1730
he was in Concepción during the earthquake of July, which destroyed that city.
His frequent voyages gave him an opportunity to study
the archives of the Company of Jesus, and about 1736, in Santiago, he began to
compile his history. From 1740 till 1758 he served in the missions of Araucania,
where he learned the language of the Indians. He intended to write a complete
history of Chile, when a decree of Charles III exiled the Jesuits, and,
notwithstanding his advanced age, Olivares had to leave the country.
In Lima, by order of the viceroy, Manuel de Amat, he was
robbed of his manuscripts, and the viceroy's secretary, Jose Perfecto Salas,
obtained the second part of the "Historia militar, civil y sagrada de lo
acaecido en la conquista y pacificación del Reino de Chile." From Imola he tried
to recover his manuscripts, and the king himself ordered the president of Chile
to send them to Spain, which was done by Ambrosio O'Higgins (q. v.), but
Olivares died before their arrival in Madrid.
A complete edition of the work and a "Historia de la
Companía de Jesus en Chile 1593-1736," with notes by the Chilean historian
Barros Arana, appeared in Santiago in 1870.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
OLIVARES, Miguel de (o-lee-vah'-res), Chilian author, born in Chillan in 1675 ; died in Imola, Italy, about 1768. He entered the Jesuit society, became a missionary, and as such began about 1701 to travel through the territories of Quillota, Polpaico, Tiltil, Limache, and others. From 1712 till 1720 he directed the missions of Nahuelhuapi and Calubco, and in 1730 he was in Concepcion during the earthquake of July, which destroyed that city. His frequent voyages gave him an opportunity to study the archives of the company of Jesus, and about 1736, in Santiago, he began to compile his history. From 1740 till 1758 he served in the missions of Araucania, where he learned the language of the Indians. He intended to write a complete history of Chili, when a decree of Charles III. exiled the Jesuits, and, notwithstanding his advanced age, Olivares had to leave the country. In Lima, by order of the viceroy, Manuel de Amat, he was robbed of his manuscripts, and the viceroy's secretary, Jose Perfecto Salas, obtained the second part of the " Historia militar, civil y sagrada de lo acaecido en la conquista y pacificacion del Reino de Chile." From Imola he tried to recover his manuscripts, and the king himself ordered the president of Chili to send them to Spain, which was done by Ambrosio O'Higgins (q. v.), but Olivares died before their arrival in Madrid. A complete edition of the work and a "Historia de la Compariia de Jesus en Chile 1593-1736," with notes by the Chilian historian Barros Arana, appeared in Santiago in 1870.
