La exposición en la ciudad de Leónla obra pía Nuestra Señora la Blanca (1700-1791)

Résumé

There are many essays about one of the problems of the Ancient Regime's society: the world of the foundlings. These abandoned children were helped by religious assistance institutions like the chapter of the city of León, that was replaced in the 17th century by the orphanages. The entries of those children into the "Arca de Misericordia" in León can be divided into three main groups. On the one hand, those who had been settled in a clandestine way and their lineage and birth were not indicated in their respective certificates, and whose origin probably can be found in the city. On the other hand, those who had been sent to the countryside, where they appeared. Finally, a third group more and more representative: the temporary or permanent refugees who could not be raised by their parents and had been left there waiting for the improvement of the economical or social circumstances of their families. This work deals with the children who were abandoned from 1700 to 1791, the year before the Leonese Orphanage was set up. Research subjects are the number of admissions, their different rhythms and the mortality. With this purpose, the study has been divided into as many phases as different changes we can distinguish.