Spain’s 17th Century Crisis: Validos, Revolts, and the Fall of the Habsburgs

The Validos: Royal Favorites in 17th-Century Spain

The system of validos, or royal favorites, was widespread during the 17th century in several European countries, particularly Spain. Their position was not institutional but resulted from a personal appointment; their power lay in the confidence the king placed in them. When this trust declined, the favorite lost all power. This system often created a significant rift between the king and his subjects. A prominent early example was Francisco de Sandoval

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Medieval Iberian Kingdoms: Castile and Aragon’s Political Evolution

Castile: Administration and Governance

Administrative Structure

Castile’s administrative territorial division included 7 provinces, known as adelantamientos (border provinces) and merindades (inland provinces).

Municipal Councils & Royal Influence

Municipal councils were controlled by regimientos, whose most prominent figure was the corregidor. Tax officials began to appear in León, becoming part of the Royal Council when they served as procuradores of cities, where they protested the handling

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Key Powers of the EU Commission and Council

The European Commission: Functions and Powers

The European Commission is the body responsible for initiating the regulatory process, which constitutes its primary power. The legislative process for any normative act unfolds as follows:

  • The Commission proposes legislation.
  • These proposals must be approved by the Council of the European Union, always considering the national interest.
  • They are also adopted by the European Parliament, almost always reflecting the interests of citizens who have voted.

This

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International Security: Concepts and State Strategies

Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Security Concepts

The field of international security encompasses various perspectives on threats and how states respond to them. A fundamental distinction exists between traditional and non-traditional security approaches.

Traditional Security: External Threats and State-Centric Focus

In the traditional conception of security, the greatest danger to a country stems from military threats. The source of this danger is typically another country, which, by threatening military

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Argentina’s National Autonomist Party (PAN) and Electoral Reform

Argentina’s National Autonomist Party (PAN)

Roca became president of the country, supported by a league formed by rulers of different provinces, which formed the National Autonomist Party (PAN). Within the PAN, all decisions were made by the president, governors, senators, and some politicians; they formed the so-called elite. This system allowed the PAN oligarchic control of the elections, remain in power, and prevent access to the government for his political opponents.

The presidents, governors,

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Understanding the Spanish Parliamentary Monarchy

Lesson 12: The Crown

I. General Ideas on Parliamentary Monarchy

1. Concept

Article 1.3 of the Spanish Constitution (EC) states that the political form of the Spanish State is a parliamentary monarchy. The monarchy is a form of head of state. In current parliamentary monarchies, Article 1 recognizes the monarchy as an institution of political unity and social institution within a parliamentary system.

Parliamentary monarchy is understood as the form of head of state characterized by the existence of

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