On September 6, 1522, one of the best-known feats of the History of Spain; a trip with which Ferdinand Magellan (died during expedition) and Juan Sebastian Elcano they faced a thousand vicissitudes to achieve a milestone such as uniting, definitively, two worlds. “Since we left this bay until the present day, we had covered more than 14,460 leagues and circumnavigated the world, from east to west,” wrote the chronicler. Antonio Pigafetta. And who better than the same Basque pilot to guide, figuratively, the reading of ‘Spain in the world’ (Edaf, 2022); a work prepared by the ‘Gestas de España’ team to read with the family and learn about the most unknown milestones of the brilliant Empire of the Hispanic Monarchy.
The project rounds off, once again, the saga of books that the three authors of ‘Gestas de España’ have shaped in recent years: Fermín Valenzuela Sánchez, Manuel Ángel Cuenca López and the illustrator Gloria Cuenca. “This whole project arose to make the history of our country known to the youngest, especially those events and characters that have remained in the background,” they reveal in a choral interview with ABC. With them we review today a series of milestones ignored by the great books. From a little-known female expedition to the Americas, to the loss of some territories like the inhospitable Guam back in the disaster of 1898. All of this, going through the destruction of some of the most widespread myths of the Empire as the terrible image of the conquerors. peninsulars.
Here we go…
-
Editorial
Thread -
pages
197 -
Precio
25 euros
-What do you think is the greatest genius of the Spanish Empire throughout its history?
It is difficult to say just one, but perhaps something very remarkable is that he was able to communicate with the whole world. Spain became a bridge that united the Old and the New World. Thanks to its presence in America and its maritime capacity, the globe became interconnected for the first time in history.
-And the lie that we still repeat to exhaustion?
The lie that Spain was a second-rate country, that it was trailing behind the rest of Europe. The more the History of Spain is studied, the more one sees that for a long time it was the opposite, it was at the head of Europe and was capable of maintaining an empire spread throughout the world when other powers were not capable of controlling their own territories.
-Let’s review some milestones in the history of Spain: could you tell us about the Palace of Spain in Rome?
That palace is the seat of one of the most unique institutions in the world, the oldest active embassy. It is the one that Spain maintains before the Holy See and starts from the Catholic Monarchs themselves. With this, Spain shows itself as a pioneer in the field of diplomacy.
-Athens, Perpignan… The cities that were Spanish are surprising. What is the most remote territory where the Spanish Empire put its flag?
If not the most remote, at least one of them is Guam. That island in the Pacific was one of the last possessions that Spain lost due to the Disaster of 98 and the few soldiers who were there when they arrived did not even know that the war with the US had broken out when the Americans arrived.
The Palace of Spain in Rome is the seat of the oldest permanent embassy in the world
Ruy López de Segura, a clergyman from Zafra, was the first unofficial world chess champion
Mencia Calderón led a group of women to Brazil first, and Asunción, Paraguay later. There, she became a prominent figure
Contrary to what the Black Legend affirms, Spain did not want its viceroyalties to become penal colonies as other countries did.
A Chinese rebellion ended thanks to a Canarian diplomat
In the Vietnam War, soldiers from both sides appreciated the group of health workers sent by Spain
-How is it possible that an earthquake prevented solving one of the most intriguing historical enigmas in the history of Spain?
The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 was a true catastrophe due to the degree of destruction and mortality it reached. As a result of this, the Portuguese capital was almost destroyed and, therefore, the tomb of ‘the Excellent Lady’, Juana de Castilla, the woman who disputed the throne of Castile with Isabella the Catholic, was lost. She was officially the daughter of Enrique IV, Isabel’s stepbrother, but there were many who pointed out that she was actually the daughter of her husband, Beltrán de la Cueva. Now it would be very easy to solve, but that earthquake has taken away our opportunity.
-What did the journey of Mencía Calderón and his fifty companions consist of in the 16th century?
It was one of the least known feats that occurred during the conquest of America, but it reflects the role that women came to play at that time. Mencía was the leader of a group of women whose destiny was to reach Asunción in Paraguay. For this they had to survive a shipwreck and cross almost unknown territories, but Mencía’s courage managed to get the expedition to its destination.
Deeds of Spain (Manuel Ángel, Fermín and Gloria)
-The conquistadors are often thought of as renegades who flocked to the New World due to the lack of possibilities in Europe. What is true, and what is false, in these statements?
It is true that many people crossed the Atlantic to improve their opportunities because the Peninsula did not have them. However, it was difficult to receive permission to go to America because they wanted to avoid people with a bad reputation and problems with justice, whether civil, ecclesiastical or inquisitorial. Spain did not want her viceroyalties to become penal colonies as other countries did.
-What is the robot portrait of the Spanish Empire?
It is the empire where the sun does not set, being able to spread and leave its mark in the form of heritage on all continents, and connect some peoples with others in a way never seen before. It is an empire of strong contrasts due to the diversity of its people and spaces to which it arrived, but which knew how to function and lead the world for longer than it wants to admit.
-When looking through your book, it becomes clear that the history of Spain has been linked to that of its female figures.
The History of Spain would not have been the same without the large number of women who played an interesting and unknown role in very varied fields. They were capable of living thousands of adventures like Catalina de Erauso, standing out with her works as Sister Juana Inés de la Cruz and show their leadership skills like Isabel Clara Eugenia. That is why it is fair to recognize everything they did at the service of Spain.
-Apparently, the first European chess champion had a Spanish accent…
It is true. Is about Ruy Lopez de Segura, a clergyman from Zafra who already as a young man showed his great aptitude for chess. However, he had to wait until a trip to Italy to be recognized as a great chess player by defeating great Italian players, who were the most famous at that time. With this he began his rise, which reached its splendor in the tournament organized by Philip II himself.
Chess match between López de Segura and Leonardo da Cutri at the Spanish court in 1575, by Luigi Mussini
-And a Chinese rebellion ended thanks to a Spanish diplomat…
Bernardo Cólogan and Cólogan, as he was called, played a key role in putting an end to the Boxer Rebellion in 1901 thanks to his privileged position as dean of the diplomatic corps and his good relations with the Chinese government. He managed to sign the agreement that put an end to the rebellion and for that he received great recognition that, unfortunately, has been forgotten today.
-Is the Spanish Empire equal to, or greater than, the Roman Empire in size?
He imitates him, in his own way. The Roman Empire has been the great reference for all European kingdoms and empires, including Spain. In his case, the Spanish Empire followed the Roman Empire by managing to bring together a large number of peoples and transplanting the Spanish model throughout the world, although adapting it to local characteristics.
-The most extravagant curiosity that you have collected about the Spanish Empire?
Perhaps that Spain was the first country victim of the yellow and sensationalist press. The reason was the war with the United States in 1898. From this country, the press was in favor of entering the war using everything necessary, from exaggerations to invented stories.
-What is the purpose of the ‘Gestas de España’ project?
This whole project arose to make the History of Spain known to the youngest, especially those events and characters that have remained in the background. This knowledge that has been treasured over the generations should not be lost in any way and here we are, ready to lend a hand to all those who work to publicize our past and break the images that still weigh on it.