Abstract

CUAUTLE AGUILAR, Marcos Santiago. Absolutism and the Right of Ecclesiastical Theological Resistance: A Lascasian Appreciation. Hist. graf [online]. 2020, n.54, pp.79-129.  Epub Feb 06, 2020. ISSN 1405-0927.  https://doi.org/10.48102/hyg.vi54.289.

The historiographic attribute most remarkable and memorable for Obispo Las Casas should be his theological and political activism against Absolutism. The adverse effects on New Spain’ Indians justified all kind of risks that Las Casas took on, so he became an unparalleled leader that faced royal power. Thanks to his rhetorical qualities he was named “Defender of the Indians”, but it was just a part of an ambitious plan with aims greater for all humankind: a “resistance right” against royal power that doubted “right of ownership” applied by the king. Naturally, this topic was a theological debate whose political implications about the bounds of authority transcended the ethical model of Western society. Las Casas demanded a congruent royal power with Christian values, kept away from ambition. However, in a centralist context the reaffirmation of sovereign’ moral nature was changing, because his own motives were entirely indifferent regarding duty of kingdom.

Keywords : Absolutism; Defender of the Indians; Resistance; Job.

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