Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues: The Court Society of Colonial Mexico 1702-1710 (Latin American & Caribbean Studies) [Paperback]

Christoph Rosenmuller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1552382346 | ISBN-13: 978-1552382349

Palace intrigues and clientelism drove politics at the viceregal court of colonial Mexico. By carefully reconstructing social networks in the court of Viceroy Duke of Alburquerque (1702–1710), Christoph Rosenmüller reveals that the Duke presided over one of the most corrupt viceregal terms in Mexican history. Alburquerque was appointed by Spain’s King Philip V at a time when expanding state power was beginning to meet with opposition in colonial Mexico. The Duke and his retainers, though seemingly working for the crown, actually built close alliances with locals to thwart the reform efforts emanating from Spain. Alburquerque collaborated with contraband traders and opposed the secularization of Indian parishes. He persecuted several local craftsmen and merchants, some of whom died after languishing in jail, accusing them of treason to bolster his own credentials as a loyal official. In the end, however, the dominant clique at the royal court in Madrid sought revenge. Alburquerque was forced to pay an unheard-of indemnity of 700,000 silver pesos to regain the king’s favour. Dealing with a topic and period largely ignored by historiography, Rosenmüller exposes the vast patronage power of the viceroy at the historical watershed between the expiring Habsburg dynasty and the incoming Bourbon rulers. His analysis reveals that precursors of the Bourbon reforms and the struggle for Mexican independence were already at play in the early eighteenth century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After completing research in Mexico and Spain, Christoph Rosenmüller earned his PhD in Latin American history from Tulane University in 2003. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of History at Middle Tennessee State University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: University of Calgary Press (April 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552382346
• ISBN-13: 978-1552382349
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,576,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating, minutely detailed reconstruction of historical human treachery, July 11, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues: The Court Society of Colonial Mexico 1702-1710 (Latin American & Caribbean Studies) (Paperback)

Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues: The Court Society of Colonial Mexico, 1702-1710 is a scholarly reconstruction of the social networks and intrigues in the court of Viceroy Duke of Alburquerque (1702-1710). Author Christoph Rosenmuller (assistant professor in the Department of History, Middle Tennessee State University) reveals the devastating depth of corruption in the Duke's court, including the alliances he built with the local population to deny reform efforts originating from Spain. The Duke collaborated with contraband traders, acted against the secularization of Indian parishes, and accused local craftsmen and merchants of treason (imprisoning some and allowing them to die in jail) to uplift his own credentials as a "loyal" official. Ultimately, the royal court of Madrid demanded revenge, and Albuquerque had to pay an astronomical (by the terms of the day) 700,000 silver pesos to return to the king's good graces. A fascinating, minutely detailed reconstruction of historical human treachery.