The Robespierre problem

Jordan, David P.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511562631.002

Cited by 3 publications

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“…87 Thus, the "incorrupt" Dr. Francia enjoyed an image very much shaped after Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794), l'incorruptible. 88 However, with Juan Manuel de Rosas and his judgement by contemporaries, it seems that the topos of the incorrupt dictator was complemented by that of the "corrupt tyrant" Rosas, for whose practices Spanish late colonial corruption did not provide any inspiration. As already remarked, pamphlets, articles and essays on rosist corruption lacked in references to the ages of the corrupt colony-except for Trachsler's travelogue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corrupt and Rapacious: Colonial Spanish-American Past Through the Eyes of Early Nineteenth-Century Contemporaries. A Contribution from the History of Emotions

Prieto

2021

Palgrave Studies in Comparative Global History

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Around 1800, merchants, scientists and adventurers travelled to Latin America with different purposes. Their multifaceted interests in a world region, experiencing a threshold of independence from Spanish colonial rule, inspired new historical and political works about the continent’s recent past. The Enlightenment provided not only the philosophical armamentarium against corruption, but it also paved the way to a new expression of sentiments and to the loss of fear when addressing injustice. Some examples of these are Hipólito Villaroel’s list of grievances and Humboldt’s Political essay. These two authors provide some thoughts on the political landscape of New Spain (now Mexico), while the two Swiss physicians Rengger and Longchamp describe the ruthless and odd dictator Francia of independent Paraguay as a champion of anti-corruption. Finally, Argentine dictator Rosas—and his robberies as described by Rivera Indarte, Sarmiento and other anonymous authors—represent the embodiment of corruption through pure larceny, for whose crimes the Spanish colonial past apparently no longer served as a comparison.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%