Catholic civilization and the evil savage: Juan Nuix facing the Spanish Conquista of the New World

This paper analyzes the Riflessioni imparziali sopra l’umanità degli Spagnuoli nell’Indie, published in 1780 by the exiled Spanish Jesuit, Juan Nuix (1740- 1783). This work, conceived as an extensive commentary on Raynal’s Histoire des deux Indes and Robertson’s History of America, presented two main points: a strong censure of the black legend version of the Spanish enterprises in America and, secondly, a peculiar point of view on 'otherness' in relation to the Spanish conquista of America. The most interesting aspect of the Riflessioni is its explicit attempt, according to the ideological positions of a ‘conservative’ Jesuit like Nuix, to revive – through a modern language – the ‘Imperial Spain paradigm' within a Counter-reformist frame: to this purpose he simply turned upside down, by claiming them as positive, all the black legend arguments

Rasgos del exilio italiano de los jesuitas españoles

This essay tries to elucidate some aspects of the exile of Spanish Assistance in 18th century Italy. First of all, the author analyses the origins of their economic difficulties before and after the suppression. Secondly he links the cultural and editorial production developed by some Spanish Jesuits, in order to refute the ideological paradigm called «leyenda negra», with the press campaign sponsored by the count of Floridablanca.En este ensayo se esbozan algunas implicaciones del exilio de los jesuitas españoles en la Italia del siglo XVIII. En primer lugar el autor analiza las causas de los apuros económicos sufridos por los ignacianos antes y después de la supresión canónica. Secundariamente se relaciona la producción cultural y editorial desarrollada por los expulsos, particularmente en la crítica de la «leyenda negra», con la campaña de propaganda promovida por el conde de Floridablanca

Los jesuitas expulsos literatos en la Italia del Setecientos : éxitos y fracasos

La historiografía ha definido a los jesuitas españoles expulsos como "mediatores" entre dos culturas: durante el largo exilio italiano (1767-1815) ellos, gracias a la habilidad sincrética propia de la Compañía de Jesús, llegaron a producir una "cultura hispano italiana", según la célebre definición de M. Batllori. El propósito de mi intervención es ofrecer unas breves reflexiones sobre unas figuras de ex-jesuitas epañoles "literatos", particularmente Juan Andrés y Esteban Arteaga. Aunque varios expulsos alcanzaron un buen éxito literario, la mayoría de ellos experimentó los sinsabores, las miserias y las dificultades económicas propias del amplio sector de la intelectualidad que intentó emerger en el difícil escenario de la República literaria europea del siglo XVIII, un sector que el gran especialista en la Ilustración francesa Robert Darnton ha definido como Grub street.Expelled Spanish jesuits have been regarded by current Historiography as "cultural mediators": during their long exile in Italy (1767-1815), they developed a "Spanish Italian culture" (according to M. Batllori's definition) thanks to a meaningful syncretic approach. The author offers some brief reflections on those expelled jesuits who decided to porsue a litterary career, with a specific focus on Juan Andrés and Esteban Arteaga. Through several spanish fathers achieved a good literary success, the majority of them suffered the typical failures, delusions and troubles experienced by eighteenth century men of letters, especially those who belonged to a sector of the Republic of Letters called by Robert Darnton "Grub Street"

Clergy and Fiscal Reform in Eighteenth-Century Spain

This study examines the continuities that can be found within the Spanish taxation system during the eighteenth century. Despite the War of the Spanish Succession and the Nueva Planta, the Bourbons did not abolish the taxation system inherited from the Habsburgs, but tried as far as possible to improve it. On the other hand, an examination of the eighteenth century reforms applied to economy and taxation allows the wider question of the roots of the Iberian Ilustración to be tackled from an original perspective. It stands to reason that the Ilustración was the result of the confluence of a plurality of traditions, currents of thought and branches of knowledge, old and new. Prominent among these were the proyectismo heir to the seventeenth-century arbitrismo; the persistent regalist tradition revitalized by the reforming trends within Catholicism ; natural law; and, lastly, political (or “civil”) economy, the scientific and academic status of which was defined precisely during the reign of Charles III thanks to the Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País and the creation of the first university chairs in Saragossa. This (and other) theoretical systems were combined and hybridized by the ilustrados according to their political struggle and related reformatory planning – which was sometimes confused, but at other times was more coherent and effective: the aim was to correct some of the most evident injustices in the coeval class-based society. The vitality of the debates on the fiscal reform shows that a sector of the Spanish ruling classes tried to change the Old Regime society from the top, keenly aware of the link between the reform of the agrarian world and the shift of the levy from indirect taxes (excise taxes and customs duties) to direct ones weighing on real estate and incomes in general. If eventually the last generation of ilustrados (including the pro-Bonapartist afrancesados) and the first generation of Spanish liberals failed in the objective of strengthening the class of small landowners and tenants to whom they wanted to entrust the re-launch of the Iberian economy, this was the result of the capacity for resistance of the privileged classes, who proved to be refractory to change

Rasgos del exilio italiano de los jesuitas españoles

This essay tries to elucidate some aspects of the exile of Spanish Assistance in 18th century Italy. First of all, the author analyses the origins of their economic difficulties before and after the suppression. Secondly he links the cultural and editorial production developed by some Spanish Jesuits, in order to refute the ideological paradigm called «leyenda negra», with the press campaign sponsored by the count of Floridablanca.En este ensayo se esbozan algunas implicaciones del exilio de los jesuitas españoles en la Italia del siglo XVIII. En primer lugar el autor analiza las causas de los apuros económicos sufridos por los ignacianos antes y después de la supresión canónica. Secundariamente se relaciona la producción cultural y editorial desarrollada por los expulsos, particularmente en la crítica de la «leyenda negra», con la campaña de propaganda promovida por el conde de Floridablanca

Pasados y presente. Estudios para el profesor Ricardo García Cárcel

Ricardo García Cárcel (Requena, 1948) estudió Historia en Valencia bajo el magisterio de Joan Reglà, con quien formó parte del primer profesorado de historia moderna en la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. En esta universidad, desde hace prácticamente cincuenta años, ha desarrollado una extraordinaria labor docente y de investigación marcada por un sagaz instinto histórico, que le ha convertido en pionero de casi todo lo que ha estudiado: las Germanías, la historia de la Cataluña moderna, la Inquisición, las culturas del Siglo de Oro, la Leyenda Negra, Felipe II, Felipe V, Austrias y Borbones, la guerra de la Independencia, la historia cultural, los mitos de la historia de España... Muy pocos tienen su capacidad para reflexionar, ordenar, analizar, conceptualizar y proponer una visión amplia y llena de matices sobre el pasado y las interpretaciones historiográficas. A su laboriosidad inimitable se añade una dedicación sin límites en el asesoramiento de alumnos e investigadores e impulsando revistas, dosieres, seminarios o publicaciones colectivas. Una mínima correspondencia a su generosidad lo constituye este volumen a manera de ineludible agradecimiento