The present study analyzes the production and circulation of printed news in the cities of Lisbon and Madrid in the second half of the 17th Century, focusing on the period of the Restoration War, that is, the period between 1640 and 1668. The conflict between Portugal and the Spanish monarchy led to the emergence, especially in Portugal, of an intense press activity. Bearing this element in mind, this study presents a thorough assessment of two newspapers printed in Lisbon and one in Madrid, as well as an analysis of several news pamphlets (relações de sucesso) in both cities, discussing their production, their printers and evaluating the press activity of the period. It also discusses how this news circulated in those cities and their role in society of not only informing, but also praising those who served the crown. At last, special attention is paid to the content of these newspapers and pamphlets, discussing how each side covered the war movements, battles won and lost, and how they described their enemy; for while the Portuguese always focused on the negative characteristics of the Spanish people, the latter still treated them as vassals of Dom Felipe IV, if misled by a group of rebels.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/T.8.2019.tde-31072019-113033