El reformismo de frontera en la cuenca del Platapropuestas y resultados (1750-1800)

Abstract

The relationship between the lberian Courts was pierced by the discovery of thc continent unknown until 1492. Since then, and until the end of the colonial link with it, the delimitation of the overseas domains of both marked the relationship between the two. The year 1750, during the regeney of Ferdinand VI, with the framework of reformism and policy of neutrality assuI11ed by that I11onarch, was a milestone in the relationship between the Courts in litigation, since, altmost three centuries after the start of the controversy, Spain and Portugal set out to update the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), which by then lacked practical validity in America - as it always has -. The choice to begin our analysis on the year 1750 was due to the fact that the official Bourbon perspective regarding the Spanish-Portugese border on Rio de la Plata was outlined that year. The arrival point of this thesis is the year 1800. The periodization is a combination that summarizes our approach and subjcet of study. lt begins in 1750 by referring to a document issued by the official perspective (Treaty of Madrid) all (I it ends in 1800 when the demarcation mission of the second subdivision of boundaries on the Spanish-Portugese border on Rio de La Plata concluded. The year 1776 is a hinge within the temporary cut, we consider that since that year the actual border reformism was implemented in Río de la Plata. That year the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata was created and a year later the Treaty of San lldefonso was signed in the Metropolis the last attempt to demarcate the Spanish dominions from the Portuguese during the colonial period). Thesc situations. together with the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, are the most relevant índicators of the acceleration of the Bourbon reformism that took place after the reign of Carlos III and that had a direct impact on the region. Since the arrival of the thirst explorers in the New World, the Crown of Castile sought to provide itself with updated information through different mechanisms in accordance with the needs of each period. In the period studie here, the Bourbon State sought to strengthen itself in the border areas by drawing on the information given by the agents assigned to the border. Our focus and main goal are oriented to oppose the official perspective (here we consider it as a historical process developed along the Spanish eighteenth century) with the feasibility of its implementation in our border vaunted reports of officials in charge of tracing the dividing line entrusted to different boundary expeditions during thc 18th century. During the period studied here, verbs such as demarcate, measure. quantify and classify renewed their validity. in light of the development of the science that was applied to achieve useful knowledge. The demarcation of the Hispanic domains from the Portuguese ones in South America provided an exceptional opportunity to put those verbs into action. They were joined by the writing of travel diaries and number of descriptions of nature that. together with the cartographic legacy. constituted the literary and scientific heritage of the issuance of limits. Precisely this type of enterprise was the one that assumed the task of demarcating the Hispanic domains from the Portuguese by means of the designation of bilateral commissions that would take care of drawing a dividing line composed of four sections denominated "partidas" 11 In this thesis we will focus on the work done by the first. by José de Varela y Ulloa and the second. by Diego de Alvear, to counterpose their de facto performance with the official prescriptive. The third partida by Félix de Ázara and the fourth one by Francisco de Aguirre are excluded from our purpose.