The Lusitanian Republic of Letters: a portrait of communication networks of emigrant newspapers in the early Nineteenth Century

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate ways of idealization and construction of the Republic of Letters between the Portuguese when their dispersion from 1808 and their attempt to maintain regular circuits of correspondence. In other words, by publishing large number of newspapers. These papers take place, especially, in London, which hosted between 1808 and 1822, at least eight Portuguese-speaking newspapers from the pioneering initiative of Hipólito da Costa; and Paris, which hosted at least three between 1815 and 1822, especially around the intellect of Solano Constâncio. From this network for the exchange of ideas that began to expand and acquire a cosmopolitan character, it is possible also investigate some of the broader dialogues established with publications in English and Spanish, to allow a glimpse of the extent of these communication networks whose doors were opened by journalism.