| Publication, Distribution, Etc. (imprint) |
- Place of publication, distribution, etc. - Madrid :
- Name of publisher, distributor, etc. - A. Martin,
- Date of publication, distribution, etc. - 1609.
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| General Note |
- General note - "...history of the Spaniards in the East Indies, focusing on the Philippines and the Spice Islands, but also including an account of Drake's voyage and much else relating to the region. "An essential work for the history of the Spanish and Portuguese exploration of the East Indies" (Hill II.475). Argensola "ties together neatly the affairs of Europe with struggles in overseas areas, for he sees the spice trade in its world-wide ramifications and makes his reader acutely aware of its immediate and potential interest for Japan and China. Through his account of the embassies sent from the East Indies to Europe he shows that diplomatic relations, not just trade, conquest, and missionizing, could be carried on with insular Southeast Asia" (Lach III.311-2).
The Spanish fortuitously routed the Dutch from their stronghold in the Spice Islands on April 10, 1606, just at a time when Spain was becoming decidedly pessimistic about the future of its empire in Europe and overseas. Leonardo de Argensola's work -- "a graceful piece of political and dynastic propaganda" (Lach) -- proclaims that Spain still possessed the determination and strength to undertake conquests in distant places and to bring them off successfully. The Conquista prompted a spate of memorials advising the crown to carry out further conquest.
Brother of the famous poet Lupercio and recognized for his own literary talents, Bartolome (1562-1631) was chosen to write the history of Europe's relations with the Moluccas from the beginnings up until the Spanish conquest. The project was sponsored by the Count of Lemos, architect of Spain's Moluccan policy, president of the Council of the Indies, and adviser to Philip III. As he provided Argensola with papers, letters, and other materials from the archives of the Indies, the handsome work draws from important primary sources, covering not only the Spice Islands and the Philippines, but also China, Java, Sumatra, Celebes, New Guinea, Ceylon, and other areas. The Spanish diplomat and historian Matias de Novoa relied extensively on Conquista in writing his fundamental manuscript history of the reigns of Philip III and Philip IV.
Recognizing the popularity of circumnavigation narratives among Spanish and Dutch readers, Argensola included an account of Drake's voyage (pp. 105-108) as well as a description of Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa's voyage of exploration to the Strait of Magellan (pp. 119-131). The allegorical female figure on the title page seated on a crocodile and holding a horn of plenty represents "Maluca.""
Source: Martayan Lan, Rare Books, Catalogue 36, 2005
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