La historia contada desde Sucre: ideando el pasado colonial
Abstract
El discurso historiográfico dominante en el siglo XIX en Bolivia, al igual que en otros países latinoamericanos, se basaba en la glorificación de la Guerra de la Independencia, que era considerada como el hito fundacional de la República, y en el rechazo y desprecio del pasado colonial. Las ciudades de Sucre y La Paz se disputaban el protagonismo histórico durante los acontecimientos de 1809, denominados como el "primer grito de la independencia". Sin embargo, al finalizar el siglo, esta disputa, que en realidad reflejaba una constante tensión política y económica que se desarrolló no sólo entre ambas ciudades, sino entre las regiones Norte y Sur del país, se enriqueció con nuevos elementos discursivos. En las regiones del sur del país (Sucre y Potosí) surgió y se fortaleció el discurso de los intelectuales, caracterizado por una marcada ambigüedad: por un lado, se escribía una historia regional basada en la glorificación de la independencia, con sus respectivos relatos heroicos; por otro, se rescataba y redimía el período colonial y sus instituciones. En este artículo se analizará la producción historiográfica sucrense de finales del siglo XIX y las primeras décadas del siglo XX, identificando tres momentos históricos en los cuales se retoma la referencia al pasado colonial: el debate sobre la capitalía en las últimas décadas del siglo XIX, la celebración del centenario del primer "grito libertario" de 1909 y la conmemoración de los 400 años de la fundación de Sucre, en 1939.
The dominant historiographical discourse in 19th century Bolivia was -as in other Latin American countries- based on glorification of the War of Independence, considered to be the foundational milestone of the Republic, and on rejection and disdain for the Colonial past. The cities of Sucre and La Paz competed for the leading protagonist role during the events of 1809, called the "first cry of Independence". And at the end of the 19th century, this contention -which in fact reflected continuous political and economic tension which developed not only between these two cities, but between the regions of the North and the South of the country- became enriched with new elements of discourse. In the regions of the South (Chuquisaca and Potosi) there emerged and increasingly became strengthened a discourse of intellectuals characterized by marked ambiguity: on the one hand, a regional history was being written based on glorifying Independence, with its respective heroic accounts; and on the other, was the revaluing and redemption of the Colonial period and its institutions. This article analyzes the historiographic production of Sucre at the end of the 19th century and during the early decades of the 20th century, identifying three historical moments in which references to the Colonial past once again emerge: the debate on which city which was to be the seat of government in the latter decades of the 19th century, the celebration of the centennial of the "first cry for freedom" of 1809 and the commemoration of the 400 years of the founding of Sucre, in 1939.
The dominant historiographical discourse in 19th century Bolivia was -as in other Latin American countries- based on glorification of the War of Independence, considered to be the foundational milestone of the Republic, and on rejection and disdain for the Colonial past. The cities of Sucre and La Paz competed for the leading protagonist role during the events of 1809, called the "first cry of Independence". And at the end of the 19th century, this contention -which in fact reflected continuous political and economic tension which developed not only between these two cities, but between the regions of the North and the South of the country- became enriched with new elements of discourse. In the regions of the South (Chuquisaca and Potosi) there emerged and increasingly became strengthened a discourse of intellectuals characterized by marked ambiguity: on the one hand, a regional history was being written based on glorifying Independence, with its respective heroic accounts; and on the other, was the revaluing and redemption of the Colonial period and its institutions. This article analyzes the historiographic production of Sucre at the end of the 19th century and during the early decades of the 20th century, identifying three historical moments in which references to the Colonial past once again emerge: the debate on which city which was to be the seat of government in the latter decades of the 19th century, the celebration of the centennial of the "first cry for freedom" of 1809 and the commemoration of the 400 years of the founding of Sucre, in 1939.
Description
Vol. 23, No. 42