Review: The Enterprise of China: From the Invincible Armada to the Manila Galleon by Manel Ollé (Editorial Acantilado)
In a summer when great powers are once again eyeing each other warily, Editorial Acantilado publishes a work that seems designed to remind us that dreams of grandeur (and imperial illusions) are not just a present-day phenomenon. The Enterprise of China by Manel Ollé is a fascinating, rigorous, and riveting book that brings to light one of the most obscure and surprising chapters in Spanish history: the unfulfilled project to conquer China in the 16th century.
Published in the El Acantilado series (volume 60, 2nd edition), this 304-page paperback maintains the usual sobriety and elegance of the publisher. With a manageable size (13 x 21 cm) and careful editing, the book invites attentive and leisurely reading, making it ideal for long summer afternoons.
The Author: Manel Ollé
Manel Ollé is one of Spain’s foremost specialists on the historical relationship between Spain and East Asia. A sinologist, professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and translator, Ollé combines a deep knowledge of Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish sources with clear, narrative prose free of dry academicism. His perspective is not that of the traditional historian who merely accumulates data, but that of a researcher who understands history as a fabric of ambitions, fears, cultural misunderstandings, and dreams of grandeur.
The Historical Context: A Spain at the Peak of Its Empire
To grasp the significance of The Enterprise of China, one must situate it in the second half of the 16th century. Spain had just completed the conquest of the Philippines (1565) and was at the height of its global power. Under Felipe II, the empire “on which the sun never set” controlled vast territories in Europe, America, and Asia. The Manila Galleon, that legendary maritime route connecting Acapulco with Manila, had just started operating, bringing to Europe Chinese silks, porcelain, and spices that set the greed of merchants and adventurers alight.
In this context of imperial euphoria, China emerged on the horizon as the ultimate trophy to be claimed. The Spanish, intoxicated by their relatively easy conquests in Mexico and Peru, believed it possible to repeat the feats of Hernán Cortés or Francisco Pizarro: conquering an empire of millions with just a handful of men. The Asian giant, known only through fragmented and exaggerated accounts, became a mirage of immeasurable wealth.
The Work: A Crazy and Fascinating Project
Manel Ollé masterfully reconstructs how the project to conquer China, known as “The Enterprise of China”, emerged, developed, and was ultimately abandoned. The book is not merely a military chronicle; it is a deep analysis of the motivations, internal debates, and cultural clashes surrounding the idea.
The author details how concrete plans were drawn up from the Philippine colony, reinforcements were requested from the metropolis, and detailed reports were prepared on the (alleged) weaknesses of the Ming Empire. Figures such as the Jesuit Alonso Sánchez played a key role, defending the moral and religious legitimacy of the enterprise. However, the disaster of the Invincible Armada in 1588 marked a turning point: Spain could no longer afford such distant and risky adventures.
Ollé avoids simplification. He illustrates both the arrogance and ethnocentrism of the Spanish as well as the enormous complexity and real power of the Ming dynasty Chinese Empire— a sophisticated, bureaucratic, and militarily powerful state that was far from being the easy prey that some dreamed of.
The book particularly shines when describing the clash of mindsets: on one hand, the Spanish conquering mentality forged in the Americas; on the other, the ancient Chinese civilization that viewed the «barbarians from the south» with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
Why Read It
The Enterprise of China is much more than a history book. It is a reflection on the limits of power, the dangers of unchecked imperial optimism, and the importance of understanding “the other” before confronting them. In today’s world, where China is once again seen by the West as both a threat and an opportunity, the book takes on surprising relevance.
Moreover, it reads like a grand adventure. Ollé combines documentary rigor with an excellent narrative ability, making the reader feel as if they are witnessing the deliberations in Manila, the intrigues at the court in Madrid, and the perilous oceanic voyages.
For GoAragón Readers
For GoAragón readers, accustomed to a deep and nuanced view of the history of Spain and Europe, this book will be especially appealing. Aragón, with its strong Mediterranean tradition and universal vocation during the centuries of Spanish expansion, is part of the same imperial history examined here.
The Enterprise of China reminds us that Spain was not only an American empire, but also a global actor that dared to dream of Asia. It invites us to reflect on how greatness and hubris have always walked hand in hand in the history of peoples. And, above all, it provides an opportunity to better understand one of the most exciting and least told episodes of our shared history.
Ultimately, it is an excellent, well-documented, and well-written work that deserves a prominent place in any library that prides itself on having a good collection of Spanish history.
