C. 30 33, Centro, 97540 Izamal, Yuc., Mexico
Brother Diego de Landa (1524–1579) was a Franciscan bishop in the Yucatán Peninsula during the early period of Spanish colonization. He is a highly controversial historical figure due to his dual legacy as both a harsh persecutor of the indigenous Maya people and an important chronicler of their culture.
**Who he was:**
- A Franciscan friar who arrived in Yucatán in the mid-16th century.
- Became the second bishop of Yucatán, based in the city of Izamal.
- Played a key role in the Spanish efforts to convert the Maya to Christianity.
**What he is famous for:**
1. **Religious Persecution and the Auto-da-fé of Mani (1562):**
De Landa is infamous for leading an inquisition-like campaign against Maya religious practices. He ordered the destruction of many Maya codices (hieroglyphic books) and idols, considering them pagan and heretical. This culminated in the auto-da-fé (public burning) in the town of Mani, where numerous Maya artifacts and writings were destroyed, and many indigenous people were persecuted.
2. **Cultural Documentation:**
Despite his harsh methods, de Landa also documented Maya culture, language, and customs in his work *Relación de las cosas de Yucatán* ("Report on the Affairs of Yucatán"). This manuscript is one of the most important sources of knowledge about pre-Columbian Maya civilization, including their calendar, writing system, and religious beliefs.
3. **The De Landa Alphabet:**
He attempted to create an alphabet to transcribe Maya hieroglyphs into the Latin script, which, although flawed, later helped scholars in the 20th century to begin deciphering the Maya script.
**Summary:**
Brother Diego de Landa remains a figure of contradiction—both a destroyer of Maya cultural heritage and a preserver of invaluable knowledge about the Maya world. His actions had a lasting impact on the history and understanding of the Yucatán and its indigenous peoples.
