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Hispanic Review
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JISPATnIC REDIEW
A Quarterly Journal Devoted to Research in the
Hispanic Languages and Literatures
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2 Robert B. Tate HE, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 3
constructs them upon the framework of the Six Ages, to which the
Vizigothic and later history is appended. The history of the
Toledano differs here. It springs uniquely from the aspirations of
Castile to be recognized as an equal in the comity of nations. The
framework of the Six Ages is dismissed, and the whole of ancient
history, Biblical as well as Graeco-Roman, is relegated to a second-
ary plane. But this is not to say that the sections devoted to the
origins of Hispania are without importance. On the contrary, the
writer makes several interesting additions which imply a partial
recasting of his historical material. Through this the independent
traditions of the Peninsula take shape, and in particular, the legend
of Hercules as the originator of Spanish monarchy is coherently
established.
II
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4 Robert B. Tate HR, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 5
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6 Robert B. Tate HR, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 7
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8 Robert B. Tate HE, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 9
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10 Robert B. Tate HR, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 11
IV
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12 Robert B. Tate HB, XXII (1954)
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Mythology in Historiography 13
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14 Robert B. Tate HR, XXII (1954)
of Marineo Sfculo, for he was a Spaniard by birth and not, like the
latter, an imported Italian. Nebrija was placed in a paradoxical
position. On one hand he was proud of his classical knowledge,
acquired in Italy and paraded like a banner of personal superi-
ority. As a result he had a profound distaste for the Romance
histories of the Peninsula, because of their fictions and their exe-
crable style: "atque ut nos autoritate regia perterrefaciant, afferunt
Historiam Generalem," he remarks caustically of his fellows at
Salamanca. He therefore includes the pseudo-classical inventions
of Annius and excludes Hispanus, Liberia, and other tales of the
Cronica de Espanna. On the other hand, like previous historians
of the fifteenth century, he deeply felt his duty towards his country,
and was indisposed to tolerate more Italianate views on its past.
It is for this reason that he thanks Ferdinand for choosing him, a
Spaniard, to write the Decades, and not an Italian, who, despite
his superior training, would be an untrustworthy writer. "Non
tamen opinor satis tuto peregrinis hominibus historiae fides con-
crederetur, Italis maxime nullius rei magis quam gloriae avaris."32
Here Nebrija was putting forward, in a more articulate fashion, the
same views as the historians of the fifteenth century who had
expressed antipathy to foreign interpretations of the Spanish nation.
They had voiced their ideas about Spain's past in the discussion of
the position of Hercules, the invader from outside. Nebrija attempts
to go to the heart of the problem. In his view, Spain had been a
magnet to the invader since the beginning of time. Up to his day,
he declares, it has always been the prey and booty of foreigners.33
Why have other European countries not suffered in the same way?
There can be no question of a lack of arms or a will to defend. He
cannot find any adequate answer to his own queries, but when he
reaches modern times, the phrase, "Hispania tota sibi restituta est,"
with which he greets the victories of their Catholic Majesties, implies
32 Rerum a Fernando et Elisabe Hispanarum foelicissimis Regibus gestarum
Decades duas (Granada, 1545), f. Aiiiv.
33 Ibid., f. Avv: "Nunquam enim ad aetatem nostram Hispania finitimis,
nunquam longinquis nationibus arma circumtulit, quin potius e diverso semper
exterarum gentium praeda fuit . . . unde obsecro tanta ignavia nostrorum
animos occupavit, ut per tot annorum volumina non modo non lacesserit bello
exteras nationes sed neque se ipsos ab hostium incursu tutati sunt. Quo minus
ignoscendum nobis est, quod non arma, non equi, non commeatus, non reliqua
belli instrumenta, non denique animus ad propulsandas atque etiam ad inferendas
iniurias deest."
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Mythology in Historiography 15
in its context not only the ejection of the Moors but also a recon-
stitution of the totality of the Peninsula, a recovery of self, a purifi-
cation from external encroachments and alien influences. SHnchez
de Arevalo, FernHn P6rez de Guzman, Vagad had only sensed this
idea of Spanish integrity, which found its expression on many levels
in the next century, both literary and political. Am6rico Castro
ascribes to it the expulsion of the Moors and the Jews.34 The retorts
of L6pez de Zufiiga (a collaborator of Nebrija in the preparation of
the Complutensian Polyglot) to Erasmus, on the latter's condemna-
tion of Spanish barbarity, are another aspect of Castilian xenophobia
and its opposition to the Europeanism of Erasmian doctrines.35
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16 Robert B. Tate HB, XXII (1954)
VI
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Mythology in Historiography 17
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18 Robert B. Tate HR, XXII (1954)
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