Fearful Vassals: Urban Elite Loyalty in the Vieroyalty of Rio de la Plata, 1776-1810

Elites of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Montevideo sought Spanish crown intervention to maintain their privileged position before the May Revolution of 1810. Factors such as social status, political opportunities, and economic benefits influenced their loyalty, while internal and external threats, including inter-group rivalries, subversive ideas, growing slave populations, indigenous resistance, Portuguese interlopers, and British imperial ambitions, posed risks to their privileges.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 280 pages
\n Publication date: 05 January 2021
\n Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
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The elites of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Montevideo, following the establishment of the viceroyalty of Río de la Plata in 1776, sought assistance from the Spanish crown on numerous occasions to maintain their privileged position amidst the tumultuous years leading up to the May Revolution of 1810. Their loyalty was influenced by a combination of factors, including social status, political opportunities, and economic benefits that afforded them a privileged lifestyle. However, the preservation of their privileges was also significantly threatened by internal and external factors. Inter-group rivalries, the presence of subversive ideas influenced by the French Revolution, the growing numbers of black slaves engaging in resistance, indigenous groups hindering the exploitation of the viceroyalty's resources, Portuguese interlopers, and British imperial ambitions culminating in the invasions of the viceroyalty in 1806 and 1807 posed significant challenges to their authority.

In response to these threats, the urban elites of the viceroyalty sought support from Spain, ensuring their continued loyalty to the Spanish crown. This reliance on Spanish intervention was driven by the desire to retain their privileges and maintain their fragile hold over the region. The Spanish crown, recognizing the importance of the viceroyalty's economic and political significance, provided assistance and support to the elites in various ways. This included diplomatic interventions to resolve conflicts, economic aid to alleviate economic hardships, and military support to counter external threats.

The elites of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Montevideo remained committed to the Spanish crown, even in the face of increasingly challenging times. Their loyalty was a reflection of their recognition of the crown's role in preserving their privileges and protecting their interests. However, their dependence on Spanish support also highlighted the limitations of their autonomy and the power dynamics at play in the region.

The creation of the viceroyalty of Río de la Plata marked a significant period in the history of South America, as it brought together different regions and cultures under the rule of Spain. The elites of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Montevideo played a crucial role in shaping the political and social landscape of the viceroyalty, and their interactions with the Spanish crown had a lasting impact on the region's history.

In conclusion, the elites of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Montevideo's loyalty to the Spanish crown was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon driven by a combination of social status, political opportunities, economic benefits, and external threats. Their reliance on Spanish support highlighted the limitations of their autonomy and the power dynamics at play in the region. The creation of the viceroyalty of Río de la Plata marked a significant period in South America's history, and the elites' interactions with the Spanish crown had a lasting impact on the region's political and social landscape.

\n Weight: 598g\n
Dimension: 162 x 237 x 29 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780822946199\n \n