Comparative Analysis of Two Versions of A Chapter from the History of Charles V by Baron de los Valles

Abstract

This article features two versions of A Chapter from the History of Charles V written by Louis Xavier Auguet de Saint- Sylvain, Baron de los Valles. The original French version was published in 1835, while the Spanish translation appeared 1837. The text describes the background and the start of the First Carlist War in Spain in 1833–1835. The author was a confidant of Don Carlos, and so his book reflected the Carlist perspective. The author believes that the Spanish translation included certain semantic modifications and additions made due to fit the changing political situation. These almost imperceptible modifications were able to change the perception of some military and political figures of the era, e.g., former Minister F. T. Calomarde, Carlist general V. Gonzalez Moreno, Christino general and future Regent B. Espartero, etc. The research objective was to show how Baron de los Valles interpreted the events related to the capture of Villafranca by the Carlists in 1834. This historical episode, later popularized by numerous memoirs and fiction, appeared only in the Spanish version of the book. The account made by the Baron de los Valles differed from the versions of other memoirists, as well as from the official press reports. A Chapter from the History of Charles V by Baron de los Valles has a low value as a historical source, but presents a considerable interest as an example of Carlist propaganda during the war of 1833–1840.