Habsburg Spain in the 17th Century: Validos and Major Crises
Seventeenth-Century Habsburgs: Validos and Internal Conflicts
Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II were the monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty that reigned in Spain during the seventeenth century. They are known as the ‘Lesser Austrias’. They commonly employed validos (royal favorites) in the government of the monarchy. A valido was a prime minister with full powers who ruled in the king’s name, often due to the monarch’s neglect, incompetence, or unwillingness. The king placed immense trust in his valido. This system offered a significant advantage to the kings, as they were never held responsible for poor decisions; instead, all criticisms fell upon the valido.
The most significant validos of the seventeenth century included:
- The Duke of Lerma and the Duke of Uceda (under Philip III)
- The Count-Duke of Olivares and Luis de Haro (under Philip IV)
- Father Nithard and Fernando de Valenzuela (during the regency of Mariana of Austria)
- Don Juan José de Austria (under Charles II)
This system often led to increased corruption, as validos frequently used their power to enrich themselves.
Throughout the seventeenth century, multiple internal political conflicts erupted within the Hispanic Monarchy.
- The Duke of Lerma ordered the expulsion of the Moriscos, which caused a significant decline in population and workforce.
- Olivares’s idea that the different kingdoms of the Peninsula should work together with Castile in the maintenance of the monarchy triggered the crisis of 1640. The conflict in Catalonia ended with the territory remaining under the sovereignty of Philip IV, while Portugal ultimately gained its independence.
- During the regency of Mariana of Austria (and especially during the reign of Charles II), the aristocracy significantly increased its influence, often controlling the monarchy.
The Crisis of 1640 in the Hispanic Monarchy
Spain’s entry into the Thirty Years’ War and the breakdown of the Twelve Years’ Truce with the Netherlands highlighted the urgent need for new financial resources. The Count-Duke of Olivares argued that not only Castilians, but all other territories of the Hispanic Monarchy, should provide money and men for the maintenance of the empire. His project, the Union of Arms, included the creation of a standing army. Catalonia and Portugal refused to cooperate in the project, which ultimately doomed the Union of Arms.
The deployment of Castilian troops to the French border during the Thirty Years’ War led to the revolt of Catalan peasants, who occupied Barcelona and assassinated the Viceroy. The Catalan rebels did not recognize Philip IV as their sovereign; they established a republic and later allied with the French Crown. Olivares was not resigned to losing Catalonia and sent troops to the Principality, eventually retaking Barcelona and securing the return of the territory to the Hispanic Monarchy.
Simultaneously, conflict erupted in Portugal. The Portuguese believed that the Spanish were not adequately defending their commercial interests, as their ships were frequently attacked by foreign powers. Moreover, they refused to accept the Union of Arms. Armed conflict began in 1640. The Spanish were defeated in Villaviciosa, and in 1668 (during Mariana of Austria’s regency), peace was signed in Lisbon, formally recognizing Portugal’s independence.