Militia and trade. Workers of the San Francisco de Campeche defense system at the end of the 18th century

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between military service and labor activities within the defensive system of San Francisco de Campeche at the end of the 18th century. It argues that the militias functioned not only as a regional protection apparatus but also as a socioeconomic regulator that consolidated the figure of the “militiaman-worker,” allowing the Crown to sustain the defense of the city by integrating security with local labor. Through an analysis of the 1778 “Regulations for the Infantry Militias of the Province of Yucatán and Campeche” and military journals, the research reveals a complex socio-labor fabric where artisans formed the backbone of the urban unit (51.5 %), while farmers predominated in the rural sector (approximately 90 %), subordinating military training to agricultural cycles.