Vicente do Salvador

Who is Vicente do Salvador?

Vicente do Salvador born Vicente Rodrigues Palha, was a Franciscan friar in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, the author of the first history of Brazil, often titled the "father of Brazilian history".

Vicente Rodrigues Palha was born in Matuim, about six miles north of the city of Bahia in 1564. Like most learned men of the time, he studied in the Jesuit College of Salvador, Bahia, and later in the University of Coimbra were he majored.

Returning to Brazil, he was ordained priest, came to be canon at the cathedral and vicar-general of Bahia. At thirty-five he became a Franciscan friar, changing his name to Vicente Salvador. He was a missionary in Paraíba, lived in Pernambuco and cooperated in the founding of the Franciscan house in Rio de Janeiro in 1607, becoming its first prelate. After returning to Pernambuco, where he taught arts at the convent of the order, in Olinda, returning to Bahia in 1612. He was elected in Lisbon custodian of the Franciscan Custody of Brazil. After a stay in Portugal, he returned to Bahia, as guardian, having died there between 1636-1639.