Patriot (Spanish American Revolution)
Encyclopedia
Patriots was the name the peoples of the Spanish America, who rebelled against Spanish control during the Spanish American wars of independence, called themselves. They supported the principles of the Age of Enlightenment
and sought to replace the existing governing structures with Juntas
. At first they declared themselves loyal to Ferdinand VII, who was captive of Napoleon Bonaparte and who seemed a supporter of the new ideals because of his conflict with his father, the absolutist
Charles IV
. However, when Ferdinand VII was restored to power and began the Absolutist Restauration, most patriots in South America decided to support independentism instead.
Some of the most important war leaders of the patriotic movements are called Libertadores
instead. The term "patriot" is used to refer to supporters of the revolution in general, or civil leaders without military activity, such as Mariano Moreno
. The enemies of the patriots, who supported keeping the existing state of things, were called Royalists. Most patriots were Criollo people
s, whereas most royalists were Peninsulares
; but there were both examples of royalist criollos (such as José Manuel de Goyeneche) and patriotic peninsulares (such as Domingo Matheu
).
Like with the case of the contemporary North American Patriots
from the American Revolution
, the word "patriot" was not used interchangeably with "nationalist
", as it is today. Rather, the concept of patriotism
was linked to enlightenment values concerning a common good, which transcended national and social boundaries. Patriotism, thus, did not require someone to stand behind his country at all costs, and there wouldn't necessarily be a contradiction between being a patriot and revolting against king and country.
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
and sought to replace the existing governing structures with Juntas
Junta (Peninsular War)
In the Napoleonic era, junta was the name chosen by several local administrations formed in Spain during the Peninsular War as a patriotic alternative to the official administration toppled by the French invaders...
. At first they declared themselves loyal to Ferdinand VII, who was captive of Napoleon Bonaparte and who seemed a supporter of the new ideals because of his conflict with his father, the absolutist
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
Charles IV
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
. However, when Ferdinand VII was restored to power and began the Absolutist Restauration, most patriots in South America decided to support independentism instead.
Some of the most important war leaders of the patriotic movements are called Libertadores
Libertadores
Libertadores refers to the principal leaders of the Latin American wars of independence from Spain. They are named that way in contrast with the Conquistadors, who were so far the only Spanish peoples recorded in the South American history...
instead. The term "patriot" is used to refer to supporters of the revolution in general, or civil leaders without military activity, such as Mariano Moreno
Mariano Moreno
Mariano Moreno was an Argentine lawyer, journalist, and politician. He played a decisive role in the Primera Junta, the first national government of Argentina, created after the May Revolution....
. The enemies of the patriots, who supported keeping the existing state of things, were called Royalists. Most patriots were Criollo people
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
s, whereas most royalists were Peninsulares
Peninsulares
In the colonial caste system of Spanish America, a peninsular was a Spanish-born Spaniard or mainland Spaniard residing in the New World, as opposed to a person of full Spanish descent born in the Americas or Philippines...
; but there were both examples of royalist criollos (such as José Manuel de Goyeneche) and patriotic peninsulares (such as Domingo Matheu
Domingo Matheu
Domingo Matheu was a Spanish businessman and politician. He was a member of the Primera Junta, the first national government of modern Argentina.- Biography :...
).
Like with the case of the contemporary North American Patriots
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
from the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the word "patriot" was not used interchangeably with "nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
", as it is today. Rather, the concept of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
was linked to enlightenment values concerning a common good, which transcended national and social boundaries. Patriotism, thus, did not require someone to stand behind his country at all costs, and there wouldn't necessarily be a contradiction between being a patriot and revolting against king and country.
See also
- LibertadoresLibertadoresLibertadores refers to the principal leaders of the Latin American wars of independence from Spain. They are named that way in contrast with the Conquistadors, who were so far the only Spanish peoples recorded in the South American history...
- Royalist
- Criollo peopleCriollo peopleThe Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
- Spanish American wars of independence