Humanist Networks and Keepers of Ancient Wisdom: Hermes Trimegistus in Medieval and Early Modern Spain by Juan Udaondo Alegre A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Romance Languages and Literatures: Spanish) in The University of Michigan 2018 Doctoral Committee: Professor Enrique García Santo-Tomás, Chair Professor Sara L. Ahbel-Rappe Professor George Hoffmann Professor Alexander D. Knysh Professor Brian Schmidt Associate Professor Ryan Szpiech Juan Udaondo Alegre [email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2297-1337 © Juan Udaondo Alegre 2018 Para Lorena ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication .............................................................................................................................ii Abstract .................................................................................................................................vi Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Chapter I. From the Time Hermes Came to Hispania to the “Multicultural” Humanism of Alfonso X Introduction ................................................................................................................9 Praestigium vero Mercurius primus dicitur invenisse. Heresy and Magic: Hermes in Visigothic Hispania................................................................................................13 Isidore ........................................................................................................................20 The Early Development of Hermetic Knowledge in al-Andalus ...............................25 Concealment and Secrecy in Andalusī Bāṭinism during the 10th Century .................34 Maslama b. Qāsim al-Qurṭubī, Author of the Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm (the Latin Picatrix) .....................................................................................................36 Medieval Networks of Translators and Hermes Trimegistus ....................................42 Hugo de Santalla in Tarazona, a Node in the 12th Century Network of Hermetic Scholars ......................................................................................................................46 The Medieval Humanism of Alfonso the Wise and Hermes Trimegistus .................54 Hermes as the Model of Courtier Inspired in the Adab .............................................61 Alfonsine Magic. Hermes and the Sciences beyond the Trivium and the Quadrivium ................................................................................................................63 Unveiling Hermes ......................................................................................................68 Conclusion .................................................................................................................70 Chapter II. Jiménez Patón, his Network, and the Spanish Early Modern Republic of Letters Introduction ................................................................................................................73 An Unexpected Advocate of Hermes Trimegistus in the Spanish Baroque ..............75 The Lover of Wisdom ................................................................................................78 Early Steps in the Path of Wisdom ............................................................................80 An Exemplary Master in the Court of Wisdom .........................................................85 The Beloved and Pious Teacher ................................................................................90 Patón’s Network and the Spanish Seventeenth-Century Republic of Letters............92 Rigorous Catholics vs. Hermetic Utopians. Patón’s Censorship of Thomas More’s Translation .................................................................................................................101 Alonso de Barros’ Moral Proverbs and Patón’ Heraclitus .......................................112 Conclusion .................................................................................................................118 Chapter III. Studia humanitatis and the Mercurius Trimegistus: Patón’s works as The endeavors of a late humanist iii Introduction ................................................................................................................120 Patón’s Works as a Humanist’s Endeavors ...............................................................121 Baltasar de Céspedez’ The Humanist ........................................................................124 Patón and his “Knowledge of Things”.......................................................................127 The Action of Things: Patón’s Activities as a Humanist ...........................................130 Patón’s Rhetoric and the Model of orator for Humanism..........................................132 How to be a Good Orator in Spanish. Patón’s Spanish Eloquence in Art (Eloquencia española en arte) ...................................................................................135 The Disciplines of Language in the Rest of Patón’s Production ...............................138 Céspedes’ Instrument of both Knowledge and Action of Things as Patón’s Necessary Instrument to Acquire all Sciences and Arts .............................................................139 Human Letters as Pagan Sciences..............................................................................145 Patón’s Moralistic Last Works and the Waning of Non-Christian Culture in Late Humanism ..................................................................................................................146 Occult Knowledge and the Boundaries of Wisdom according to Patón ....................151 Publishing and Marketing Mercurius Trimegistus ....................................................161 About the Title Mercurius Trimegistus......................................................................166 Conclusion .................................................................................................................177 Chapter IV. Ingressi salutis viam: Neo-scholastic Thought and the Christian Salvation of Mercurius Trimegistus PART I. The Answer of Patón to Fray Esteban and the “Problem of Paganism” Introduction ................................................................................................................180 The “Problem of Paganism” in Early Modern Spain .................................................182 Patón’s Mercurius Trimegistus under Suspicion .......................................................184 Fray Esteban’s Scolding Notes and the Answer of Patón ..........................................188 The Genre of Patón’s Answer ....................................................................................189 The Big Doctrinal Challenge .....................................................................................191 An Open Catholic View on Pagans ...........................................................................192 The Church Fathers, Lactantius, and the Early Association of Hermes with the Sibyls..........................................................................................................................195 A Biased Interpretation of Augustine ........................................................................200 Aquinas on the Salvation of Pagans...........................................................................205 Conclusion .................................................................................................................209 PART II. Ancient and New Pagans in Salamanca’s Neo-Scholastic Theology Introduction ................................................................................................................210 Patón’s Main Authority on Pagans: Domingo de Soto ..............................................212 Bartolomé de Las Casas and the intellectual setting of the Valladolid Debate .........219 The Intellectual Outcome of the Valladolid Debate on Paganism: An Apologetic Summarized History ...................................................................................................222 Conclusion .................................................................................................................232 PART III. Proving the Salvation of Mercurius Trimegistus Introduction ................................................................................................................234 Mercurius’ Idolatry in the Asclepius and Ficino’s Relevance for Patón: a Reassessment...........................................................................................................237 Patón’s Sources and the Sphere of Late Humanism ..................................................247 iv Hermes and the Holy Trinity .....................................................................................251 Hermes Trimegistus and Jesus’ Eternal Generation, Incarnation, and Last Supper ..259 Back to the Prologue and Aquinas: Patón Closes his Argument in the Answer on Trimegistus’ Salvation ...............................................................................................271 Conclusion .................................................................................................................278 Chapter V. The Final Christianization of Hermes. A Convenient Solution to the Problem of Paganism in the Neostoic Era. Introduction ................................................................................................................282