17th Century Habsburg Spain: Internal Conflicts & Decline
17th Century Habsburgs: Government and Internal Conflicts
During the 17th century, the last three Habsburgs, Philip III (1598-1621), Philip IV (1621-1665), and Charles II (1665-1700), ascended to the throne. It was an absolute monarchy, concentrating all political power in the hands of the sovereign, outside the medieval nobility and institutions like the courts or municipalities. The kings, however, delegated the government to validos, privies, or favorites who governed on their behalf. This was the case of the Duke of Lerma and the Duke of Uceda in the reign of Philip III, the Count-Duke of Olivares and the Duke of Haro in Philip IV’s reign, and the Jesuit Nithard and the upstart Fernando Valenzuela during the minority of Charles II.
These figures, common in European courts, came from the ranks of the nobility or clergy, and their power often aroused the rejection of a faction of the court while garnering support from another. Despite their high position, they depended on the friendship and the will of the monarch, hence the frequent ups and downs that could hasten their downfall. Some were statesmen of singular value, some mediocre, and most did not miss the opportunity to make personal fortunes, as was the case of the corrupt Duke of Lerma.
The 17th century was a time of decline for the Hispanic monarchy: it lost the leadership it had held in Europe in the last century and experienced a deep crisis in domestic politics.
This decline derived, ultimately, from a foreign policy that called for an increasing number of men and money that the kingdoms (particularly Castile, which bore the brunt) were not able to provide. The tension reached its peak during the reign of Philip IV (1621-65). In 1626, the Count-Duke of Olivares proposed the Union of Arms, requiring each territory of the Empire to contribute a number of soldiers in proportion to its population. This political decision sparked riots in various peripheral kingdoms, both in defense of and against the measure.
In 1640, the revolt began in Catalonia, leading to a terrible war that lasted until 1652. That same year, 1640, also saw the rebellion of Portugal, which, after a long struggle, gained independence in 1668 with the Peace of Lisbon, ending the Iberian Union. Elsewhere, uprisings took place, featuring an ambitious nobility or driven by a context of scarcity of bread, altered monetary policy, fiscal pressure, and forced levies.
In 1641, the Marquis of Ayamonte and the Duke of Medina Sidonia conspired against the monarchy, but the lack of a tradition of independence in Andalusia caused the rebellion to fail. In 1647, there was a significant rebellion in Naples and one in Palermo, born of hunger and despair, but they failed due to a lack of ideological content and support from the estates (nobility and clergy). Something similar occurred again in Andalusia between 1647 and 1652.
The Crisis of 1640
In 1640, as a result of political unification and the demand of the Count-Duke of Olivares for the realms to contribute equally to that made by the weary kingdom of Castile, rebellions erupted that came to question the existence of the monarchy itself.
In Catalonia, there were already bad relations due to the rejection of the Union of Arms by the Catalan Courts. The situation worsened with the excesses of the Castilian troops stationed in Catalonia for the anti-French war (Catalans supported the French cause). On the eve of Corpus Christi day, the reapers seized Barcelona and killed the Viceroy. The government’s repression of the Catalans led Olivares to deliver the Principality to the French king. The prolongation of the war and the abuses of the French army favored the surrender of Barcelona in 1652. The Count-Duke of Olivares respected most of the privileges of the Principality.
In Portugal, the union with the Hispanic monarchy was never well received by the Portuguese people. Furthermore, they experienced attacks by the Dutch on their colonies in Brazil and Asia. In 1640, a conspiracy of the nobility proclaimed the Duke of Braganza as king (John IV). He signed a peace treaty with the Netherlands and had the support of France and England. In 1668, after a long war, Spain recognized the independence of Portugal in the Peace of Lisbon.