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FATHER LUIS ERNESTO DE VALDIVIA

book "The Soul in the word" publish the new archive
Father Luis de Valdivia, the "dissident" of War Arauco

Amid the conquest, advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples in Chile and was able to build a defensive war. Over 61 unpublished documents of the Jesuit priest, the English researcher José Manuel Díaz Blanco describes how he convinced the English crown, the impetus with which he fought his critics and his going into exile from Valladolid. Constanza Valdés Rojas

Arts and Letters El Mercurio Santiago de Chile
Sunday May 8, 2011

During the conquest of America when the English attacked the indigenous, also circulated accusing theoretical current injustices against indigenous peoples and sought to calm the violence. Also, there were cases such as the Dominican priest in running battles with the English shouting something like: "We're going to condemn!". But the Jesuit Luis de Valdivia was born in Granada in the early 1560s, took a step further by modifying the structure of combat, the relationship between the English Crown and the Indians through what is called defensive war. Thus, Valdivia enrolled in history as a peacemaker, and one of the staunchest defenders of the rights of the Mapuche people.

The English researcher at the University of Sevilla José Manuel Díaz Blanco became interested in the figure. Reviewing files on your country, Chile and Italy found dozens of unpublished documents which recorded step by step the life and work of Valdivia. Then, after publishing an investigation called "Reason of state and good governance. Defensive War and English imperialism under Philip III" (University of Seville, 2010), Díaz Blanco wanted to spread this material. They are 61 texts, along with a brief preliminary study, meet in the book "The Soul in the word" published by Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado in conjunction with the Institute of History of the Catholic University of Chile.

The material consists of letters to King Philip III, the court ministers, priests of the Society of Jesus, and other recipients. The historian Claudio Rolle, promoter of the collection "Jesuit Library of Chile" that belongs to this book says: "The value of these letters is that it shows 'the kitchen', not just the dish presented in the table, but how it worked a man with a deep conviction about what their mission is a genuine concern about the situation of indigenous people of Chile, and activated, do not stay in a declaration of intent. The letters are a reflection of this action. They show their side of missionary and political and diplomatic skills. It is his private side, where there from impressions of daily life to reflections to help understand their actions. "

In" The Soul in the word "describes how Jesuit education aroused in him a concern for the salvation of souls and how, then realized that I should worry about the souls of the Indians. In 1589 comes to America as part of an expedition of evangelization, and in 1604 sent a petition to the Viceroy Luis de Velasco and the Count of Monterrey. This is the first letter that includes Díaz Blanco in the book: "It's the premiere of his thought. It establishes for the first time this fundamental point: without developing social justice to the Indian society will never actually end the conflict war. And to end this conflict will never be possible evangelization that was what he primarily cared. All that is social justice in Chile today is a major predecessor Valdivia. " Diego Barros Arana

said the success of their proposals to the English court was due in large part to his influence as church and their contacts. But Diaz Blanco refutes this hypothesis, and "The Soul in the word" may follow the argumentative strategy that got Luis de Valdivia in 1612 Defensive War began-with which stops the passage of the English army beyond the border the Araucanian people. Rolle said: "The interesting thing is that Valdivia has a deep conviction and a will to be effective in their purposes. Therefore, despite the great differences of opinion with local authorities, aims to go to higher authorities and, if necessary , moved to Spain. Try not only to pastoral issues, but also political and military. There is an idealist, but has strong criterion of reality, which knows how to use certain arguments that have to do with the interest of the crown. "

The decline

In" The Soul in the word "not only show the virtues of Father Luis de Valdivia. According could verify Díaz Blanco, the priest became arrogant and aggressive opponents. This is explained in the book, "Behind so much violence and not only was stubborn fanaticism, but also feelings much more vulgar: the arrogance, pride, pride ... all powered by the great dignity that he held and for that kind of security, at times delusional, to be a true messenger of God. "

During the implementation of defensive warfare suffered physically and morally product received by hatred of their enemies, and all that is recorded especially in letters to his brother Alonso Núñez de Valdivia. Authorities Society of Jesus was accused of involvement in political affairs when in theory it was not allowed, and finally in 1621 is confined to Valladolid until his death in 1642.

Four years after his departure from Chile, a change in policy orientation English monarchy also ended his great work, Defensive War. "But their ethics, which followed throughout their lives, remain in place, "says Diaz Blanco." Valdivia is a man of the seventeenth century, but they can be very enlightening for the man in the beginning of the century ".

unknown Documents

"To the extent that the Mapuche issue is now in vogue, resurfacing figures like Luis de Valdivia", says researcher José Bengoa, who included it in books like "conquest and barbarism" and "History of ancient Mapuche of southern ".

José Manuel Díaz Blanco explains:" Of all the documents included in the book, some has already been used as a source for previous investigations, and one was completely Unknown. "

The texts were drawn from the following files: Archivo General de Indias, Seville Historic National Archives of Chile, Santiago, Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu, Rome, Biblioteca Nacional de Chile, Santiago, Historical Archive of the Province of Toledo of the Society of Jesus, Alcalá de Henares, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Archive of the Colegio de San Ignacio, Santiago de Chile; Historical Archives of the Archbishopric of Santiago de Chile.