La «impía» imprenta y librería mallorquina de Miguel Domingo (1810-1814)

Abstract

La llegada del impresor y librero liberal Miguel Domingo a Palma de Mallorca en 1810 supuso el inicio de un conflicto con las fuerzas reaccionarias afincadas en la isla. Su industria, por medio de los escritos que publicaba y vendía al amparo de la reciente libertad de imprenta, resultó ser un potente foco de difusión de las nuevas ideas que corrían por Europa, así como de las reformas constitucionales promovidas por las Cortes de Cádiz. Todo ello para enojo grande de sus enemigos, que consideraban aquel local como un peligroso foco de infección para las almas de la ciudadanía, y que se hallaban persuadidos, además, de estar asistiendo a una conjura contra el trono y el altar, en la cual Miguel Domingo desempeñaba importante papel en la capital balear. Comportamiento, en fin, que tuvo que pagar bien caro cuando, tras la retirada del ejército francés, volvió Fernando VII y, abolida la Constitución, se tornó a las antiguas leyes.

The arrival of the liberal printer and bookseller Miguel Domingo in Palma de Mallorca in 1810 implied the beginning of a conflict with the reactionary groups settled on the island. His bookshop turned out to be a powerful centre for spreading the new ideas that were circulating through Europe, as well as the Constitutional reforms promoted by the Cádiz Cortes. He accomplished this due to the writings he published and sold thanks to the new freedom of the press. All of this caused great annoyance in his enemies, who considered that establishment as a dangerous focus of infection for the souls of the citizens. They also were convinced they were witnessing a conspiracy against the Crown and the Church, in which Miguel Domingo played an important role in the Balearic capital. In the end he had to pay dearly for his behavior when, after the retreat of the French army, Fernando VII came back, and, with the Constitution abolished, the former laws were restored.