The history of a denial: The popular character of the 1624 tumult of Mexico

• Autor(a) principal: Reis, Anderson Roberti dos
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Estudos Ibero-Americanos
• Texto Completo: https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/index.php/iberoamericana/article/view/35503
• topic: Tumult; Marquis of Gelves; Mexico; 17th Century; Tumulto; Marqués de Gelves; México; Siglo XVII; Tumulto; Marquês de Gelves; México; Século XVII

On January 15, 1624, a tumult broke out in Mexico City, forcing the viceroy to leave the royal palace to save his life. As a result, the Real Audiencia took over the functions of government of the New Spain until Philip IV appointed another viceroy, prompting bitter debate on both sides of the Atlantic and accusations from each side. Who was responsible and what were the causes of the rebellion that had in effect overthrown the Marquis of Gelves? These questions underlie the research presented in this article, which aims to analyze two versions of the riot written between 1624 and 1629 and attributed to the viceroy. In terms of methodology, the proposal will examine both documents seeking answers to those questions and comparing them. In so doing, we have noted a subtle but significant difference: the second version emphatically denied the popular character of the tumult. We then proceed to show how such a denial occurred in order to offer a hypothesis for that change. Our hypothesis holds that there was a shared understanding of sovereignty in Iberian world that made it possible for Gelves to deny the popular character of sedition. He did it for two purposes - to defend his reputation and heritage, and to ensure that the Spanish royal authority over New Spain had not been broken. This became more relevant as conflicts in Europe increased in the 1620s and others countries threatened the overseas domains of Spain.