Volunteers of the Empire

War, Identity, and Spanish Imperialism, 1855-1898

Fernando J. Padilla Angulo

• Éditeur: Bloomsbury Academic
• Année: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781350281226
• Édition: 1
• Sujet: History
• Sous-sujet: Military & Maritime History

This book uncovers the history of The Volunteers, a Spanish loyalist militia who were committed to upholding Spanish imperial interests and influence in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santa Domingo and The Philippines as the age of empire came to a close. Unpicking the relationship between local and imperial administrations and highlighting the contribution of voluntary units to colonial warfare, Padilla Angulo shows how Spanish loyalism persevered in the colonies even as the last bastions of empire were dismantled. Revealing the complexity and diversity of The Volunteers themselves in various colonies, Volunteers of the Empire shows how thousands of young men of Spanish, African and Asian descent were united in the defence of Spanish sovereignty in times of anti-colonial struggle that were civil wars in all but name. It uncovers a fascinating history of a militia that became an essential element of Spanish imperialism and the armed wing of Spanish loyalism during the second half of the 19th century. Through their fluctuating relationship with the authorities in Spain, The Volunteers provide a fresh perspective into the global and local complexities of nation building, nationalism and citizenship.

Table des matières

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Title Page
• Contents
• List of Plates
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author’s Note
• 1 Crossroads of Empires in the Antilles
• 2 A Reaction against Annexation
• 3 Saved by the Empire: Morocco, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico
• 4 Against the Revolution (1868–78)
• 5 Fighting the Revolution across the Atlantic
• 6 The Volunteers and the Reconstruction of Cuba
• 7 The Volunteers and the Emergence of Party Politics
• 8 The Volunteers and the Military Challenges of Peace
• 9 The Volunteers’ Last Stand (1895–8)
• 10 The Volunteers in the Philippines
• 11 Dismantling the Volunteers
• 12 After the War
• Sources Consulted
• Index
• Imprint