The Academy of the Distrustful (, ), or Distrustful Academy (, ), is an academy of letters founded on 3 June 1700 in Barcelona as a Baroque literary and musical association with the aim of promoting the study of classical and Catalan history and poetry, mostly in Spanish, by fourteen scholars headed by the noble . It published the work on the death of Charles II of Spain, and two of its members made the first edition of the works of Francesc Vicent Garcia (Barcelona, 1703), which contains a prologue praising the role of the academy. The poet, soldier and statesman , although he was not a member, was the author of the same.
It was able to hold its sessions until 1703, leaving to meet in the context of the War of the Spanish Succession. Most of its members ended up supporting Charles III of Austria. It has been claimed that in 1714 it was closed by Philip V of Spain, although there is no document that corroborates it. A few years later the torch was taken by the Academy of Barcelona or Literary Academy of Barcelona, founded in 1729 and refounded in 1752 as the Royal Academy of the Good Letters of Barcelona, currently still active.
On 3 June 2025, on the 325th anniversary of its foundation, it has been reconstituted as a humanities association (in the broadest sense of the term) in the Sala Dalmases of the .
Distrustful academicians The list of distrustful academicians of the first historical stage of the Academy of the Distrustful (1700–1703) has been made from: its acts (conserved in the Historical Archive of the City of Barcelona);Historical Archive of the City of Barcelona: of the "Razón de la obra" of the , its only book (dedicated to the memory of Charles II);Nenias reales..., "Razón de la obra", unfoliated. and from the final list of its second statutes (dated 1702 or 1703).Library of the University of Barcelona: The relationship of the academicians follows a chronological criterion and respecting the order of appearance in the aforementioned primary documentation. The structure of the list of academicians as well as the reconstitutors have been documented in the Book of the Soul of the Academy of the Distrustful.
Founder academicians (on 3 June 1700) 1. (Badalona, 1672 – San Pier d'Arena, Genoa, 1745),Web 11setembre1714.org. count of Savallà. 2. (Barcelona, 1669 – Brussels, 1740),Carreras 1922, p. 38-41. marquis of Rubí, royal councilor and lieutenant in the office of rational master of the Royal House and Court of the realms of the crown of Aragon. 3. (Barcelona, 1670 –1715),Carreras 1922, p. 41-44. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, marquis of Castellbell from 27 March 1702. 4. (Barcelona, 1671 – Rome, 1721),Carreras 1922, p. 44-46. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, archdeacon of Santa Maria del Mar and dignity and canon of the Cathedral of Barcelona church. 5. (1670 – 1704),Carreras 1922, p. 46-49. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 6. (Barcelona, 1658 – Naples, 1715),Carreras 1922, p. 49-51. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 7. (Barcelona, 1662 – 1735),Carreras 1922, p. 52-53. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 8. (Barcelona, 1670 – Girona, 1726),Carreras 1922, p. 53-55. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, doctor of both laws and canon of the Cathedral of Barcelona church. 9. (Vilafranca del Penedès, 1675 – 1737),Carreras 1922, p. 55-58. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 10. (Conques, Pallars Jussà, 1671 – 1736?),Carreras 1922, p. 58-59. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 11. (Barcelona, 1675 – 1739),Carreras 1922, p. 60-64. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, doctor of both laws and canon of the Cathedral of Barcelona church. 12. (Barcelona, 1682 – Valencia, 1707),Carreras 1922, p. 64-67. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 13. (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 67. doctor of theology. 14. (Barcelona, 1670 – 1718),Carreras 1922, p. 21-32. noble of the Principality of Catalonia and doctor of arts and philosophy; archivist.
Academicians admitted to being chosen superintendents on 3 June 1700 15. Joan de Pinós i de Rocabertí (Barcelona, 1670 - 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 68-70. noble of the Principality of Catalonia and knight of the Order of Saint John; superintendent. 16. Martín Díaz de Mayorga (León, c. 1646 - Barcelona, 18 th century), noble of the la crown of Castile (native of the kingdom of León) and captain of the Spanish infantry; superintendent.
Academicians admitted on 10 June 1700, in the First Academy 17. Joan Baptista de Vilana i de Millàs (Barcelona, 1666 - 1744),Carreras 1922, p. 110-113. noble of the Principality of Catalonia; academicians introducer and treasurer. 18. Francesc Valls (Barcelona, 1665 - 1747),Carreras 1922, p. 103-106. licentiated and chapel master of the Chatedral of Barcelona. 19. Diego Martínez y Folcrás (Sant Cugat del Vallès, 1660 - Seville, 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 89-90. noble and captain of infantry.
Academicians admitted on 18 June 1700 20. Diego Pellicer y de Tovar (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 91-94. noble, knight of the order of Saint James, former auditor for the king in the province of Teramo of the kingdom of Naples, general auditor of the Royal Army of Catalonia, etc. 21. José Carrillo de Albornoz (Seville, 1671 - Madrid, 1747),Carreras 1922, p. 78-84. noble of the crown of Castile (native of the kingdom of Seville) and captain of cuirassiers horses. 22. Felip Armengol de Folch (Valencia, 17th century - Barcelona, 11 September 1714),Carreras 1922, p. 76. noble of the kingdom of Valencia and captain of infantry. 23. Josep de Llupià i d'Agulló (Barcelona, 17th century - La Seu d'Urgell, 1713),Carreras 1922, p. 88-89. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, doctor of both laws and prelate canon of the Chatedral of Urgell church.
Academicians admitted on 21 July 1700, eve of the Fourth Academy 24. Antoni Serra (17th century - Barcelona, 1725),Carreras 1922, p. 101-102. doctor of theology, former professor of philosophy at the General Study of Barcelona, professor of theology in the same, synodal examiner of several bishoprics and qualifier of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. 25. Diego de Cárdenas (Elx, 17th century - ?, 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 78. noble of the kingdom of Valencia and general comissar of the cavalry; superintendent. 26. Francesc Sans de Monrodon i Miquel (Barcelona, 1667 - Vienna?, 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 100-101. noble of the Principality of Catalunya; superintendent.
Academicians admitted on 5 August 1700, ¿in the Fifth Academy? 27. Josep Baltasar de Dalmases i Ros (Barcelona? 1667 - Barcelona, 1725),Carreras 1922, p. 86-88. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, doctor of both laws, and head sacristan, dignity and canon of the Cathedral of Barcelona church; superintendent of the music. 28. (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 107. music.
Academician admitted on 30 August 1700, in the Ninth Academy Note:At the beginning of this academy there is also a work by Ignacio Pellicer, in which he states that he had already presented another one before (in some of the lost academies). In front of his name, like in the case of Villarroel, it was also written "Fue admitido y tuvo todos los votos", an inscription that was later deleted.
29. Iñigo de Villarroel (Toledo, 1666 - Barcelona, 1755),Carreras 1922, p. 113-115. noble of the crown of Castile (native of the kingdom of Toledo) and captain of cuirassers horses.
Academician admitted on 21 October 1700, in the Tenth Academy 30. (17th century - Barcelona, b. 1712),Carreras 1922, p. 107-109. noble of the Principality of Catalonia, precentor, prior and vicar general in the Royal Monastery of Ripoll, definitor and general visitor of the congregation of Cloistered Benedictines in the province of Tarragona, etc.
Academicians admitted on 14 January 1701, eve of the Eleventh Academy 31. Alessandro Dini (Sinigaglia?, 17th century - ?, 18th century), noble of the peninsula of Italy. 32. (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 102. doctor of theology and professor of Humanity at the General Study of Barcelona. 33. (Torre de Moncorvo, 1670 - Salamanca, 1747),Carreras 1922, p. 77. noble of the kingdom of Portugal. 34. (Caldes de Montbui, 1653 - Barcelona, 1735),Carreras 1922, p. 74-75. geographer.
Academicians admitted between 15 January 1701, date of the Eleventh Academy, and 18 November 1701, date of the Twelfth Academy 35. (Salamanca, 1676 - Madrid?, 1765),Carreras 1922, p. 103. noble of the crown of Castile (native of the kingdom of León). 36. Gabriel Álvarez de Toledo y Pellicer (Seville, 1662 - Madrid, 1714),Carreras 1922, p. 73-74. noble of the crown of Castile (native of the kingdom of Seville).
Academicians admitted between 15 January 1701, date of the Eleventh Academy, and 25 March 1703, possible date of the Thirteenth Academy 37. Manuel de Pellicer y Velasco (17th - 18th centuries), noble of the crown of Castile. 38. (Barcelona, 1683 - a. 1747),Carreras 1922, p. 84-85. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 39. Marc Antoni Vinyas (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 115-116. noble of the Principality of Catalonia and professor of Humanity at the General Study of Barcelona. 40. Benet de Sala (Girona, 1684 - 1749),Carreras 1922, p. 98-99. noble of the Principality of Catalonia. 41. Marc d'Alva (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 106. noble, overseer of the presidios of Girona, etc. 42. Diego Pellicer y Bustamante (17th - 18th centuries), noble of the crown of Castile; former menino. 43. Josep Miró (17th - 18th centuries),Carreras 1922, p. 90-91. doctor of theology. 44. Josep Faust de Patau i de Ferran (Barcelona, 17th century - Vienna, 1732),Carreras 1922, p. 96-97. noble of the Principality of Catalonia.
Academician admitted between the publication of the Nueva disposición, y firmes leyes (between 27 March 1702 and 20 December 1703) and the one of the first edition of La Armonia del Parnàs (between 12 May and 31 December 1703) 45. (Barcelona, 1671 - ?, 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 116-117. honored citizen of Barcelona (de matrícula) and doctor of laws.
Academician admitted probably at the same time as the previous one 46. Miquel Francesc de Salvador (Barcelona, 1663 - ?, 18th century),Carreras 1922, p. 99. honored citizen of Barcelona (de matrícula).In a handwritten list of academicians (from which it seems that the printed one of the Nueva disposición, y firmes leyes was made), cited by Ernest Moliné i Brasés ("La Acadèmia dels Desconfiats", Boletín de la Real Academia de Buenas Letras, vol. IX, no. 65 (January to March), Barcelona, Real Academia de Buenas Letras, 1917, p. 6 n. 1) but which has not been found, it is recorded that in some memorials given to the Academy were the requests and admissions of both.
Reconstituter academicians (on 3 June 2025) 47. Miquel Pérez Latre (Barcelona, 1969), doctor of philosophy in History. Left on 19 February 2026. 48. Joan Pons Alzina (Ciutadella de Menorca, 1967), licentiated in History, speciality Modern History; superintendent. Left on 19 February 2026. 49. Eduard Puig Bordera (Bellpuig, 1982), squire of the Principality of Catalonia and doctor of philosophy in History; superintendent. Left on 19 February 2026. 50. Joaquim Verde i Llorente (Blanes, 1987), doctor of philosophy in History; archivist.
Meninos and menines The meninos are the apprentices of the Academy of the Distrustful. The list has been made from the "Razón de la obra" of the , and from the final list of the Nueva disposición, y firmes leyes.Library of the University of Barcelona: Nueva disposición, y firmes leyes..., unfoliated, in fine.Llibre de l'Ànima..., p. 11.
Meninos admitted between the foundation of the Academy on 3 June 1700 and the publication of the Nenias reales (between 15 January and 31 December 1701)