El protagonismo de la mujer de la colonia francesa de Alicante. La defensa de sus intereses patrimoniales en un periodo de crisis (1793-1795)

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to study of a group of women who lived a highly conflictive period: the War against the French Convention (1793-1794). Members of many families of the mercantile elite, carried out an outstanding role in the defence of the position they occupied in the society, and showed the reflection of the enterprise and investing initiatives of the group to whom they belonged. Their economic prosperity, at the violent moments of xenofobia in the Kingdom of Valencia, could cause serious consequences to the general coexistence. However, those French that accumulated major fortunes and social status, managed to a great extent to maintain their professional prestige thanks to the contribution of the women who made part of these families. On the one hand, with the participation of them in the businesses and safekeeping of the family’s patrimony, they had the opportunity to show their courage despite the circumstances. On the other hand, they kept on struggling in defence of their men who were in exile off the country.

Keywords

• war
• women
• familia
• family
• patrimony
• National Convention