Julián Garcés, O.P. was a Spanish Dominican prelate born in Munébrega in the

Kingdom of Aragon The Kingdom of Aragon (; ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Monarchy, kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain. It became a part of the larger ...

. He was made Bishop of Yucatán in 1519 and subsequently the first acting

Bishop of Tlaxcala A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

from 1525 to 1542.

Biography

Garcés took the vows in the convent of the Orden de Santo Domingo in

Calatayud Calatayud (; 2014 pop. 20,658) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Province of Zaragoza, within Aragón, Spain, lying on the river Jalón (river), Jalón, in the midst of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. It is the second-largest ...

. He studied at the

University of Salamanca The University of Salamanca () is a public university, public research university in Salamanca, Spain. Founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León, King Alfonso IX, it is the oldest university in the Hispanic world and the fourth oldest in the ...

and the Sorbonne in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, then taught theology in the convent of Zaragoza, where he received his master's degree. He then studied

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

, and

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

in Paris. He was the royal chaplain of

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, V of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

and head of the Dominican Order in

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...

. He was named bishop of the new diocese of Yucatán, in New Spain, the 1519 royal provision reading, "We present you (Rev. Father Julián Garcés) to the Bishopric of Yucatán and Santa María de los Remedios", having been recommended by Carlos's ecclesiastical advisers. However, with new information about the new territory's geography, in 1525,

Pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

Clement VII Pope Clement VII (; ; born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the most unfortunate of ...

named him

bishop of Tlaxcala A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

, writing, "We grant you and the bishops who shall succeed you, that you call yourselves not bishops of Santa María (de los Remedios or of

Yucatán Yucatán, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate municipalities, and its capital city is Mérida. ...

) but 'Tenuxtitlan' and of other lands to be mentioned.""Tlaxcala." Catholic Encyclopedia. Catholic Online. Web. 14 Mar. 2016. Garcés chose the city of

Tlaxcala Tlaxcala, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala, is one of the 32 federal entities that comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Tlaxcala, 60 municipalities and t ...

as his

episcopal seat A cathedral is a church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations with an episcop ...

. Despite his old age, he did not hesitate in setting out for the West Indies, taking possession of his episcopal see two years later. In his time in the tlaxcalan bishopric, he stood out for his care taken in the protection of the natives, as well as the erection of temples and welfare services. The fruit of these endeavors was the construction of a hospital on the 'Camino de Veracruz' and of the

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

of Puebla de los Ángeles, the name that his diocese would later adopt. Garcés is one of the Aragonese who participated in the early missionary and colonial action of the

Spanish Crown The monarchy of Spain or Spanish monarchy () is the constitutional form of government of Spain. It consists of a Hereditary monarchy, hereditary monarch who reigns as the head of state, being the highest office of the country. The Spanish ...

in New Spain, taking an active part in the controversy concerning the natives, the result of which was a letter to Pope Paul III in defense of the "Indios". He died in his see of a malarial fever at the age of 89."Garcés, Fray Julián." Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa. Web. 14 Mar. 2016. (Spanish)

Work

* ''Epístola ad SS. Dom. Nost. Paulum III Pontificem Maximum in Gratiam Indorum. Ilustratio omnium operum Divi Augustini, Notis marginalibus a se ipso factis'' * ''Ilustratio omnium operum Divi Augustini, Notis marginalibus á se ipso factis''

References

Sources

Biblioteca Virtual de Aragón
Accessed 26 February 2024. *

External links and additional sources

Biografía del obispo Garcés
* (for Chronology of Bishops) * (for Chronology of Bishops) * (for Chronology of Bishops) * (for Chronology of Bishops) {{DEFAULTSORT:Garces, Julian Spanish Dominicans 16th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Mexico Spanish Roman Catholic bishops in North America 15th-century people from the Crown of Aragon 1452 births 1542 deaths University of Salamanca alumni 16th-century Spanish Roman Catholic priests