The work 'Flores de Espana. Excelencias de Portugal': a reinterpretation
The work 'Flores de Espana. Excelencias de Portugal': a reinterpretation
Authors
Gloel, Matthias
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Date
Datos de publicaciĆ³n:
10.4013/hist.2020.241.04
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Abstract
The goal of this study is a new interpretation of the work Flores de Espana, Excelencias de Portugal (1631) by Antonio de Sousa de Macedo, which has been interpreted as a precursor of the author's activities in favour of the Braganza dynasty one decade later. This work is also the main source, although other contemporary works from Portugal but also from other Spanish kingdoms are also taken into account. We analyse the different aspects of the work and contextualise them with other contemporary sources of the period.The analysis is based on three hypotheses, that the work is directed to King Philip IV, that the author wants wo show that the Portuguese kingdom is not subordinated to any other kingdom and that the king should consider it as the preeminent kingdom within the monarchy. Our hypothesis, which we seek to prove, is that, unlike the traditional interpretation, the work's intention is not to demand a separation of Portugal from the monarchy. We think that although it is true that it does express a consciousness that Portugal would deserve a better treatment by the monarchy, the author actually tries to show to the king that Portugal is the best and most dignified of his kingdoms, which is why it deserves a better position within the Spanish monarchy.