Abstract
Francisco de Toledo (Cordoba, 1532-Rome, 1596), one of the most eminent commentators of his day, is among the most important figures in the Society's early history. He belongs to the first generation of Jesuit theologians who taught philosophy and theology, wrote commentaries and handbooks, and thus began building a distinctively Jesuit orthodox doctrine.
Toledo's academic and political career was filled with success. From the start of his career at Salamanca, where he studied theology and gave his first cursos de artes (courses of philosophy), Toledo's abilities were recognized by contemporaries such as his professor Domingo de Soto (1494-1560), who described him as "prodigious." After entering the Society in 1558, he was missioned to teach philosophy (1559-62) and then theology (1563-69) at the prestigious Roman College.
The texts of his lectures were soon adopted as Scholastic handbooks within Jesuit colleges and became bestsellers once published. In 1569, Toledo began a brilliant diplomatic career as the pope's ambassador and counselor, during which time he would participate in some of the most important events of his day, such as the reconciliation between King Henry IV of France (r.1589-1610) and the papacy, and the revision of the Latin Vulgate (1592-98), the so-called Sixto-Clementine Vulgate.
In recognition of his services, the pope elevated Toledo to cardinal in 1593-the Society's first. This chapter seeks to explain the reasons for this success and to outline Toledo's contribution to Jesuit pedagogy.
By interrogating his works from a philosophical perspective, the chapter aims to improve our understanding of Toledo's thought and to link the question of Toledo's "originality" as a philosopher to the historical context in which he lived and which inevitably informed his work.