The writer and diplomat Diego de Saavedra Fajardo (1584–1648) was an exceptional witness to a decisive moment in Spanish history, characterised by military conflicts in Europe and the decline of the House of Austria. And although we are unaware of some of his biographical details, perhaps irretrievably lost in the course of time, and his complete works, written hastily on roads and in guesthouses, still not fully identified, we do know enough to recognise his multifaceted talent, his sharp wit and his profound intelligence. But above all, Saavedra was a man loyal to his nation and his king in the most adverse circumstances, guided by the purpose of preventing the fall of the Spanish Empire in Europe.

José Luis Villacañas Berlanga is Professor of Philosophy at the Complutense University of Madrid and a specialist in the relationship between Spanish and European thought. He directs the Saavedra Fajardo Digital Library of Hispanic Political Thought research project and the periodicals Res Publica, Revista de Historia de las Ideas Políticas and Anales del Seminario de Historia de la Filosofía.

You can also listen to the video podcast with the author, José Luis Villacañas, via the QR code.