Os protocolos do prestígio: a trajetória de Miguel Gerónimo de Esparza no Cabildo de Buenos Aires (1718-1766)

Abstract

This research aims to elucidate the trajectory of Miguel Gerónimo de Esparza Ustarro y Rodríguez, a member of the Cabildo of Buenos Aires, where he worked as Regidor from the years 1718 to 1724, and from 1730 until 1766. The goal is to comprehend the dynamics and internal functioning of the institution through his career. Concurrently, it reveals how the Spanish legislation conceived the Cabildo inside the colonial structure, including its official representatives’ attributions. After delineating his actions, it was expected to discover how his position in the institution could - and effectively did - benefit Miguel and his relatives. The investigation into his bureaucratic labor, as well as the bonds he established during his career with other people or families, was an approach to the comprehension of the internal balance of the local elite. The adopted theory is that Migueal would act in a series of public demonstrations, which were even praised and expected by the colonial bonaerense society. Because bureaucratic protocols and etiquette codes were socially recognized as evidence of prestige, they not only indicated belonging to a specific “social placement”, but also provided a variety of material and symbolic benefits to the individuals involved. To understand those issues, this investigation also considered the identification of other members of the Esparza family who occupied positions in the Cabildo. In addition to his involvement in internal debates of the institution, research was conducted on his relatives, relations of cronyism, and practices developed for insertion and permanence in the local elite. From the analysis of the family group and the relation established, it was possible to identify aspects of social mobility, as well as his circles of sociability or dispute. Although the institutional path of Miguel Gerónimo de Esparza could be investigated in the records of “Acuerdos del Extinguido Cabildo de Buenos Aires”, the identification of the bonds between him and the relatives, elite, and officials from the Cabildo was pivotal in prospecting reasons for his interests and alliances. Thus, the collating of the referred registers was made, including birth, marriage, baptism certificates; procurement and sales documents, and bibliographic dictionaries, among others.