Spanish 18th Century: Bourbon Dynasty, Enlightenment, and Culture
Historical and Cultural Context of 18th-Century Spain
Political Issues Following the Death of Charles II
Following the death of Charles II without issue, there was a change of dynasty. The Bourbons took the throne of Spain. The Bourbon monarchs were French, reformist supporters of enlightened despotism. Don Felipe, grandson of Louis XIV, was named King of Spain with the name Felipe V. This situation triggered the War of the Spanish Succession between the monarchs and the Archduke of Austria. Felipe V promulgated the Nueva Planta decrees, creating an absolutist and centralized state. The king abdicated the throne to Luis I, but his son died early, beginning the second reign of Felipe V. Fernando VI maintained a foreign policy aimed at rebuilding the country. Carlos III, King of Naples, was a great connoisseur of the Encyclopedists and the brother and successor of Fernando VI. Therefore, he put into practice ongoing reforms with the help of ministers like Esquilache and Grimaldi. He also expelled the Jesuits and ordered the dissolution of the Society of Jesus. The beginning of the French Revolution raised fears for the new king, Carlos IV. The Count of Floridablanca reinforced the confidence of the king, but new ideas and greater activity emerged, such as the new Inquisition. Manuel Godoy, the First Minister, fostered a rapprochement with France.
Socio-Cultural Point
Most of the population was illiterate. The university was quite far behind, still using Scholastic Aristotelianism and unaware of the advances in mathematics, medicine, and biology. Latin was still employed. Many thinkers argued that metaphysics and theology should give way to science. Gatherings were assembled where reason was proclaimed as the foundation of science, and experience was considered a useful method with a specific purpose. Journalism diffusion was reduced. In the 18th century, the literary and scientific press began to emerge.
Cultural Institutions and the Royal Spanish Academy
Later, academies, museums, and other institutions were created, including the National Library and the Royal Spanish Academy. The Royal Spanish Academy was founded in 1713. It was originally a gathering that met in the palace of Juan Manuel Fernandez Pacheco. In the 18th century, the Royal Spanish Academy published the Dictionary of Authorities. Later, they published Orthography and Grammar. They also published an edition of Don Quixote.
Literary Trends of the 18th Century
- First Half: Writers continued to follow Baroque models in poetry, drama, and prose.
- Second Half: Neoclassicism emerged, proposing the limitation of creative imagination to pre-established models, austerity, and the concept of “good taste.” It sought balance, symmetry, and simplicity. In the second half, philosophical and didactic poetry, as well as Neoclassical comedy and tragedy, were prominent. The main manifestation of Rococo is the Anacreontic, a type of composition that had been cultivated in the previous century. In the 18th century, sentimentalism was used, which some critics have called Pre-Romanticism.
Neoclassical Poetry
In his poem “Ode to Salamanca,” Cadalso urges poets to abandon love themes and engage in useful poetry. This new lyric prefers the loose hendecasyllable to highlight themes in the service of humanity and progress. The most important poet of this movement is Manuel J. Quintana.
Didactic Poetry
Didactic poetry developed through the fable. Its top representatives are Felix Maria Samaniego and Tomas de Iriarte.