Leyenda Negra - History Lab

Expulsion of the Jews. Truths and lies

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:28:11 +0000

13-minute video about a controversial topic in Spanish history and popular imagination, the expulsion of the Jews. The results are difficult to understand if one takes into account that what happened in Spain was not the most massive expulsion, nor the last, nor, of course, the most violent. France expelled this religious minority up to four times in its history, without its persistent anti-Semitism being so interesting for the popular imagination.

The post Expulsion of the Jews. Truths and lies first appeared on History Lab.

Álvaro de Bazán, the “undefeated” and other heroes of the Empire

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:28:06 +0000

54-minute video that takes us to the figure of Álvaro de Bazán y Guzmán (1526-1588), 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz, a 16th century Spanish military officer and admiral, famous for his use of galleons, for using for the first time marine infantry to carry out amphibious operations and for never having been defeated. Known as “the undefeated”. At the same time, it also shows other figures linked to the Spanish Monarchy’s navy

The post Álvaro de Bazán, the “undefeated” and other heroes of the Empire first appeared on History Lab.

Against the Black Legend in America

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:28:06 +0000

30-minute video on the Black Legend of the Empire. The 12th of October, the day Christopher Columbus set foot in the New World, is Spain’s National Day. It is the official national day. However, it is not merely a regional celebration, but a remembrance of the encounter between two different worlds, which is why it is a Universal day. It is not only a day of celebration in Spain, but also in America. From 12 October 1492 onwards, the social and political configuration of the world was transformed forever. Nowadays, there is fierce ideological opposition expressed mainly with the resounding sentence “nothing to celebrate” in reference to 12 October. Eduardo Galeano is frequently quoted to give a literary patina to the black-legendary ideological message. It is also common to come across the term “genocide” to describe Spain’s relationship with America. The spread of this perspective is so widespread and so vehemently stated that it seems to have become a majority opinion. But is this perception accurate, does it correspond to the Spanish imperial reality, was there plundering and destruction of the indigenous people, was there miscegenation and a civilising action worthy of celebration?

The post Against the Black Legend in America first appeared on History Lab.

Philip II, Renaissance prince and champion of the Catholic faith

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:35 +0000

Radio documentary in which prestigious historians analyse the complex personality and reign of Philip II, his Empire and the difficulties in managing it, as well as his determination to defend the Catholic religion. It highlights his facet as a Renaissance prince who built El Escorial and treasured fourteen thousand volumes in his library; as an art collector (Bosch, Titian, Flemish painters, etc.) or as a promoter of town planning and fortifications in America, in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Panama, for example. It deals with his image distorted by the Black Legend as a fanatic king and defender of the Inquisition, which was propagated by his enemies in England and the Netherlands. Apart from self-interested manipulations, the video also analyses the dark points of his reign, from the death of his son, the infant Charles, to the long and continuous wars he waged as a champion of Catholicism. Wars against England, the Netherlands and the Turks left the country exhausted and on the verge of ruin with several bankruptcies. In Documentos RNE, Modesta Cruz tackles the controversial figure of Philip II through leading specialists such as the professors of Modern History at the Complutense University of Madrid, Enrique Martínez and Fernando Bouza. Also featured are commentaries by Geoffrey Parker and John Elliot, and the late Manuel Fernández Álvarez and Joseph Pérez, great connoisseurs of the period of Philip II.

The post Philip II, Renaissance prince and champion of the Catholic faith first appeared on History Lab.