The discourse of a forgotten frontier : The Valley of Corn and the wars against the "barbarian Indians", 1735-1805

Résumé

This work analyzes the development of a regional identity discourse in the eastern part of the San Luis Potosí province, at the end of the colonial period. Identity built by the groups at the social and economic peak, and expressed in a local apology based on a history of conquest, war of extermination, and heroic virtues of the men who had colonized that corner of the Spanish empire. To understand the peculiarity of this discourse, it is necessary to take into account that the territory was, for almost two centuries, a war frontier with Chichimeca Indians. The border condition contributed to the definition of the features of this identity discourse.