Enrique Florez

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Enrique Florez (February 14, 1701 - August 20, 1773) was a Spanish historian. Florez was born at Valladolid; in his fifteenth year he entered the order of St Augustine, was afterwards professor of theology at the University of Alcala, and published a Cursus theologiae in five volumes (1732-1738). He then devoted himself to historical studies. Of these the first-fruit was his Clavis Historiae, a work of the same class as the French Art de verifier les dates, and preceding it by several years. It appeared in 1743, and passed through many editions. In 1747 was published the first volume of Espana Sagrada, teatro geografico-historico de La Iglesia de Espana, a vast compilation of Spanish ecclesiastical history which obtained a European reputation, and of which twenty-nine volumes appeared in the author's lifetime. It was continued after his death by Manuel Risco and others, and further additions have been made at the expense of the Spanish government. The whole work in fifty-one volumes was published at Madrid (1747-1886). Its value is considerably increased by the insertion of ancient chronicles and documents not easily accessible elsewhere. Florez was a good numismatist, and published Medallas de Las Colonias in 2 vols. (1757-1758), of which a third volume appeared in 1773. His last work was the Memorias de las reynas Catolicas, 2 vols. (1770). Florez led a retired, studious and unambitious life, and died at Madrid.