Erasmus and the 'Non placet Hispania' that still stings
The humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam turned down Cisneros' invitation with a 'Non placet Hispania'. Five centuries later, his name is a byword for mobility.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Erasmus refused to come to Spain: the 'Non placet' that still hurts
The humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam never set foot in Spain. When Cardinal Cisneros invited him to join the University of Alcalá, he replied with a laconic 'Non placet Hispania'. The phrase, recorded in the chronicles, has gone down in history as a gesture of contempt towards the peninsula. Five centuries later, the rejection still stings.
Ironically, Erasmus' name is now carried by millions of students crossing Europe on the Erasmus programme. As one recent reading puts it, 'his name is now used by students as an excuse to go partying and hook up in other countries'. The anecdote turns the historical affront into a karmic revenge: the man who refused to visit Spain ends up lending his name to the very exchange programme that does the exact opposite.
The contemporary reaction swings between indignation and mockery. While some take the 'Non placet' as a personal slight that justifies reactive nationalism, others file it away as a curiosity of little consequence. But the survival of the episode shows that historical wounds, however old, find an echo on social media and fuel identity debates that never quite close.
The humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam never set foot in Spain. When Cardinal Cisneros invited him to join the University of Alcalá, he replied with a laconic 'Non placet Hispania'. The phrase, recorded in the chronicles, has gone down in history as a gesture of contempt towards the peninsula. Five centuries later, the rejection still stings.
Ironically, Erasmus' name is now carried by millions of students crossing Europe on the Erasmus programme. As one recent reading puts it, 'his name is now used by students as an excuse to go partying and hook up in other countries'. The anecdote turns the historical affront into a karmic revenge: the man who refused to visit Spain ends up lending his name to the very exchange programme that does the exact opposite.
The contemporary reaction swings between indignation and mockery. While some take the 'Non placet' as a personal slight that justifies reactive nationalism, others file it away as a curiosity of little consequence. But the survival of the episode shows that historical wounds, however old, find an echo on social media and fuel identity debates that never quite close.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (15 replies).
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