Description
Book SynopsisJulian Romero, Sancho Davila, Cristobal de Mondragon, and Francisco de Valdes were prominent Spanish military commanders during the first decade of the Revolt in the Low Countries (1567-1577). Occupying key positions in this conflict, they featured as central characters in various war narratives and episodical descriptions of the events they were involved in, ranging from chronicles, poems, theatre plays, engravings, and songs to news pamphlets. To this day, they still figure as protagonists of historical novels: brave heroes in some, cruel oppressors in others. Yet personal, first-hand accounts also exist. Archival research into the letters written by these commanders now makes it possible to include their perspectives and the way they describe their own experiences. Looking through the eyes of four Spanish commanders, Protagonists of War provides the reader with an alternative reading of the Revolt, contrasting the subjective experiences of these protagonists with fictionalised perceptions. Free ebook available at OAPEN Library, JSTOR and Project Muse
Trade ReviewTo a large extent, the malleability, contradictions, and diverse interpretations of
these figures are rightly presented by Fagel as inherent to the process of narrative appropriation and re-creation. Indeed, showing the numerous ways that the presentation of the
actions, motives, and reputation of these figures have been shaped through the hands of
chroniclers, historians, and playwrights is key to these accounts. Yet stressing this aspect of
the study would understate the extent that Fagel has also deployed a wealth of administrative and personal correspondence to set the anecdotes, interpretations, and assumptions
against a more substantive, verifiable account of the lives and actions of these men.
In consequence, while the book tells us much about their shifting historical reputations
from the sixteenth century to the present day, it also offers detailed evidence about the
dynamics of military service for these officers in the Army of Flanders. Parrott, D., Early Modern Low Countries, 6(2), 299–301. https://doi.org/10.51750/emlc13432
Table of ContentsAbbreviations
Introduction
Words of gratitude
Chapter I: Captain Julián: the hero of the battlefield
Chapter II: Sancho Dávila: the champion of Catholic Spain
Chapter III: Cristóbal de Mondragón: the good Spaniard
Chapter IV: Francisco de Valdés: the exemplary soldier
General conclusion: episodic war narratives in comparison
Bibliography Index
