Istorica Descrizione de' tre regni Congo, Matamba ed Angola
Encyclopedia
An Historical Description of Three Kingdoms: Congo, Matamba, and Angola (Italian
Istorica descrizione de' tre' regni Congo, Matamba et Angola) is an extensive work written by Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo
, an Italian Capuchin
missionary
, over a long period while working as a missionary in Angola
, between 1654 and 1677.
The work was commissioned by the Holy Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
when Cavazzi returned from his first missionary trip to Angola in 1668. He completed a draft of the manuscript of the work around 1671, but opposition from the Church, primarily because of many miracle stories, which had fallen out of favor in the church, prevented its publication. After an interval, the task of editing the work was given to another Capuchin, Fortunato da Alamandini, who edited it, and it was eventually published in 1687 in Bologna
. A second edition appeared in Milan
in 1690
Cavazzi probably began writing this work around 1660, perhaps in response to his witnessing the conversion of Queen Njinga to Christianity, which he regarded as something of a miracle. He wrote several drafts of a work which he called "Missione Evangelica" which he completed in 1668. This work, which is presently in the possession of the Araldi Family of Modena, Italy, was published in English translation on the internet by John Thornton, with a full introduction, and a comparison between this early manuscript and that of the eventual book.
Saccardo, Graziano [da Luggazano] (1965) ed. and trans. Descrição histórica dos três reinos Congo, Angola e Matamba. Lisbon: Agência Geral do Ultramar. 2 vols.
Pistoni, Giuseppe (1969)"I manoscritti 'Araldi' di Padre Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo," Atti e memorie, Accademia di scienze, lettere e arti di Mondena 2: 152-65.
idem(1972). Fra Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo: Documenti inediti Modena
Thornton, John (1979). "New Light on Cavazzi's Seventeenth Century Description of Kongo," History in Africa 6: 253-64.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
Istorica descrizione de' tre' regni Congo, Matamba et Angola) is an extensive work written by Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo
Giovanni Cavazzi da Montecuccolo
Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo was an Italian Capuchin missionary noted for his travels in 17th century Angola and his lengthy account of local history and culture as well as a history of the Capuchin mission there.Cavazzi was an indifferent student and was almost denied a position in...
, an Italian Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, over a long period while working as a missionary in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, between 1654 and 1677.
The work was commissioned by the Holy Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
when Cavazzi returned from his first missionary trip to Angola in 1668. He completed a draft of the manuscript of the work around 1671, but opposition from the Church, primarily because of many miracle stories, which had fallen out of favor in the church, prevented its publication. After an interval, the task of editing the work was given to another Capuchin, Fortunato da Alamandini, who edited it, and it was eventually published in 1687 in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. A second edition appeared in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1690
Cavazzi probably began writing this work around 1660, perhaps in response to his witnessing the conversion of Queen Njinga to Christianity, which he regarded as something of a miracle. He wrote several drafts of a work which he called "Missione Evangelica" which he completed in 1668. This work, which is presently in the possession of the Araldi Family of Modena, Italy, was published in English translation on the internet by John Thornton, with a full introduction, and a comparison between this early manuscript and that of the eventual book.
Translations
Labat, Jean-Baptiste (1732). Relation historique de l'Ethiopie occidental. Paris: Delespine. 5 vols.Saccardo, Graziano [da Luggazano] (1965) ed. and trans. Descrição histórica dos três reinos Congo, Angola e Matamba. Lisbon: Agência Geral do Ultramar. 2 vols.
Commentary
Cuvelier, Jean (1949). "Notes sur Cavazzi," Zaire 3: 175-84.Pistoni, Giuseppe (1969)"I manoscritti 'Araldi' di Padre Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo," Atti e memorie, Accademia di scienze, lettere e arti di Mondena 2: 152-65.
idem(1972). Fra Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi da Montecuccolo: Documenti inediti Modena
Thornton, John (1979). "New Light on Cavazzi's Seventeenth Century Description of Kongo," History in Africa 6: 253-64.