PROPERTY FROM THE ORTIGAS LIBRARY COLLECTION
Conquista de las islas Malucas
Madrid, Alfonso Martin,1609

12” x 8” x 1” (29.8 cm x 20.9 cm x 3 cm)


CONDITION REPORT: Hardbound, in leather with gold tooling designLight water stainGood



Argensola, a Spanish priest, historian and poet writes the first historical account of the Spanish incursion into the Moluccas and Spice Islands to claim them. It had been a back-and-forth struggle between Spain and Portugal to exercise sovereignty over these spice laden islands much desired and fetched much in Europe. There was the interminable squabbling over where the Philippines and the Moluccas belonged as per the 1493 Papal division of the world. There was the Portuguese-Spanish rivalry and skirmishes to claim this area even when there had been a formal truce when for a period, Portugal and Spain became one state. There were too the native chieftains of the major islands of Ternate and Tidore whose conflicts and desire to secure their share of the spices embroiled the two naval powers. And the Dutch appeared on the horizon. The non-linear poet Argensola recounts the period with digressions and other observations - world affairs, the native manners, insightful observations - all adding depth to an otherwise flat account of this battle and that battle. There is though the compulsive Spanish trait to assert their supremacy as seen on the impressive title page of the book. “Maluca” the Amazon queen with a headdress is seated on a crocodile a sword on her left hand and a horn full of flowers and fruits on her right hand. She is entranced looking upward towards a rainbow with a shimmering royal crest as if to mean this period was Spain’s supreme moment and contribution to the world.