Abstract

REYES CARDENAS, Ana Catalina. Corruption, Power and Abuse: The Capitains of War During the Late Colonial Period in Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. Historelo.rev.hist.reg.local [online]. 2013, vol.5, n.9, pp.12-41. ISSN 2145-132X.

In this paper it is shown, based on primary sources, an image of how power was exerted by Royal servants at the end of XVIII^th century. In this case, they were the war captains named in new settlements as a result of the Bourbon policy of territory and people organization, or in zones in clear decadence in which councils had disappeared. Most of those Royal servants, having no preparation or salaries, would take advantage of their position to exploit and abuse the people. This paper also illustrates how free residents (mestizo, half-breed and mulatto) denounce these situations with complains, and also how they exert a political experience which uses the riots, disturbance and -in extreme cases- violence to protect themselves from bad government.

Keywords : captains of war; free people; rabble; disrepect; corruption; despotism.

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