The Spanish Monarchy: Habsburg Decline and Bourbon Reforms (17th-18th Centuries)
The Habsburgs of the 17th Century: Favorites and Conflicts
Under Charles I and Philip II, royal secretaries never exceeded the status of assistants to the King. However, starting with Philip III, the role of the *valido* (favorite or chief minister) became dominant.
Philip III (1598–1621) and the Duke of Lerma
Philip III’s first favorite, the Duke of Lerma, lacked political education and honesty. He was wasteful, corrupt, and sold offices. He was eventually appointed cardinal to avoid execution (the gallows). His son and successor, the Duke of Uceda, was more concerned with finances.
During this reign, despite a decline in warfare, taxes increased, leading to several bankruptcies. Attempts to alleviate this included the excessive minting of copper coins. The Expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609 was poorly received in Valencia and Aragon, causing severe economic and demographic problems.
Philip IV (1621–1665) and the Count-Duke of Olivares
Philip IV’s favorite was the Count-Duke of Olivares. He attempted administrative reforms and implemented trade protectionism, which paradoxically hindered the development of domestic industry. He sought to abolish tax exemptions in the peninsular kingdoms. Olivares created the Union of Arms, requiring mandatory military participation from all kingdoms of the Monarchy, but this failed due to widespread opposition. He was succeeded by Luis de Haro, who was considered more balanced.
Charles II (1665–1700): The End of the Habsburg Line
Charles II’s early favorites included Father Nithard and then Fernando Valenzuela. Later, John of Austria the Younger was appointed, who boosted the Councils. Subsequent ministers included the Duke of Medinaceli and the Count of Oropesa, who implemented economic reforms. Although these reforms initially caused trade disruption, they proved beneficial in the long run. The reign ended amidst internal crises, characterized by economic malfunction, administrative decay, and the incompetence of the favorites.
The Crisis of 1640: Rebellions Against the Monarchy
In 1640, major uprisings against the Spanish Monarchy erupted in Catalonia and Portugal, alongside attempts in Andalusia, Navarre, Naples, and Sicily.
The Catalan Revolt (Guerra dels Segadors)
The people of Catalonia were angered by the special tax demanded by the King, which the Generalitat refused to pay. The Count-Duke of Olivares sent troops to Catalonia to attack the French in the south and requested the participation of Catalan forces. When these were insufficient, the Italian army troops committed abuses against the local population. This led to the Corpus de Sangre uprising (June 7, 1640), where peasants and the bourgeoisie rose up, proclaiming a republic under the protection of Louis XIII of France. Catalonia was eventually recovered by Spain in 1652.
The Portuguese Restoration War
On December 1, 1640, Portuguese nobles and troops rose up under the command of the Duke of Braganza, who was declared King John IV. Causes included damages inflicted on Portuguese colonies by the Dutch during the Twelve Years’ Truce (1621–1640) and the centralizing policies of the Count-Duke of Olivares. The uprising succeeded due to the virtual absence of Spanish troops in Portugal.
Other Secessionist Attempts
- In Andalusia (1641), the Duke of Medina Sidonia attempted to form an independent kingdom, but failed.
- In Aragon, there was an attempt to proclaim the Duke of Híjar king, which also failed.
- Secessionist attempts in Navarre, Naples, and Sicily were made but were quickly suppressed.
The Early Bourbons and the Establishment of Absolutism
With Philip V, Bourbon absolutism was established in Spain, based on the divine origin of the King’s authority. The Bourbon monarchs governed with the help of high state officials, replacing the system of favorites. This new ideology drove institutional reforms aimed at extending the King’s authority throughout the monarchy. The goal was to modernize the government, economy, and culture without fundamentally transforming the social structure of the *Ancien Régime*.
The kings of this dynasty were:
- Philip V (1700–1724, 1724–1746)
- Louis I (1724)
- Ferdinand VI (1746–1759)
- Charles III (1759–1788)
- Charles IV (1788–1808)