Abstract |
In 1767, Carlos III entrusted Pablo de Olavide with the creation and administration of the New Settlements that were established in segregated territories of the province of La Mancha and the kingdoms of Jaen, Cordova and Seville. The scope of the project caused Olavide to appoint Fernando de Quintanilla in 1768 as a sub-delegate of the New Settlements of Andalusia. Very soon, the Enlightenment ideas of the first greatly influenced the second, who adopted and defended them until 1776. However, the arrest and subsequent inquisitorial sentence of the superintendent would make him renounce those ideas and repeatedly beg to be able to retire to his hometown. The government rejected their requests for years, but, in the meantime, Quintanilla focused on improving its position within the San Juan order; with such success that in his last two decades of life he enjoyed several encomiendas and bailiajes that, in addition, allowed him to enjoy a considerable income. |