17th Century Spain: A Period of Crisis
The Spain of the 17th Century
The Habsburgs of the 17th Century
The 17th century was a time of crisis for the Habsburg monarchy. The Habsburg kings left the government in the hands of validos (similar to prime ministers who advised the king, supervised, and controlled the councils of government).
Philip III (1598-1621)
Philip III left power to the Duke of Lerma, who enriched himself through corruption and divided power among his family members. He moved the court to Valladolid and expelled the Moriscos due to fears that they practiced their religion secretly and aided the Turks. This resulted in the decline of artisan and agricultural production, particularly in Valencia and Aragon.
Philip IV (1621-1665)
Philip IV relied on the Count-Duke of Olivares, who, to address the decline caused by the Thirty Years’ War, sought to consolidate royal power and the monarchy. To achieve this, he aimed to centralize the realms through legal unification (following Castile’s centralist model). With the Union of Arms, he sought greater unity by distributing the cost of the army among the realms. These and other authoritarian measures provoked uprisings in Andalusia, Aragon, and Naples. More serious were the rebellions for independence in Catalonia and Portugal.
Charles II (1665-1700)
Charles II, weak and sickly, was under the regency of his mother, Mariana of Austria. He relied on several validos. Upon his death without issue, he left the throne to Philip of Anjou, thus establishing the Bourbons in Spain after the War of Succession.
The Crisis of 1640
To fund the Thirty Years’ War, the Count-Duke of Olivares created the Union of Arms (all realms were to contribute men and money). Opposition to Philip IV’s policies led to general rebellions, and Olivares was dismissed.
The Revolt of Catalonia (1640-1652)
The war began due to societal discontent generated by the presence of Castilian troops during the wars between France and Spain. The Corpus Christi massacre, triggered by a group of reapers in Barcelona, led to the death of the Count of Santa Coloma, a Catalan nobleman and viceroy of Catalonia. The Catalans named Louis XIII of France as their count. After 12 years, the insurgents surrendered to the troops of Juan José de Austria.
The Revolt of Portugal (1640-1668)
Frustrated by Castile’s enemies and excessive taxation, the Portuguese revolted, proclaiming the Duke of Braganza as King John IV. The rebellion had anti-Castilian and pro-independence characteristics. Supported by France and England, Portugal gained independence.
The Decline of the Spanish Empire in Europe
The 17th century (under the Habsburg kings) was a century of decline for Spain, inseparable from the general crisis in Europe.
Philip III (1598-1621)
Philip III pursued a peaceful foreign policy, signing the Twelve Years’ Truce with England and the Netherlands.
Philip IV (1621-1665)
Philip IV and his valido, the Count-Duke of Olivares, intervened in the Thirty Years’ War. After initial successes at Breda and Nordlingen, Spanish armies were defeated at sea (The Dunes) and on land (Rocroi). The Peace of Westphalia recognized the independence of Holland and the loss of Habsburg hegemony to France. The war with France ended with the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which resulted in the cession of Roussillon, Artois, Sardinia, and other territories to France.
Charles II (1665-1700)
Charles II suffered several defeats against France (Louis XIV), who annexed border towns in the Netherlands and the Franche-Comté. When the childless Charles II died, he left the throne to Philip of Anjou, triggering the War of Succession and introducing the Bourbons to Spain.
Economic and Social Evolution
The economic depression of the 17th century was general in Europe, but it affected Spain more severely, especially Castile. It was a time of economic and social crisis.
The population declined due to emigration to America, the expulsion of the Moriscos, increased celibacy, epidemics, and hunger exacerbated by poor hygiene. Inequality between social classes increased. The indebted nobility reduced rents from their estates, the clergy grew in number, artisans and peasants were impoverished, and many became criminals or beggars. Access to public office was increasingly based on bloodline. The countryside suffered significant losses in agricultural production. The Hacienda (treasury) depended on weather conditions, insufficient transportation, and storage methods. Industrial and commercial development was minimal due to a lack of entrepreneurship, territorial fragmentation, and technological and scientific backwardness, resulting in uncompetitive industrial and commercial centers. The arrival of precious metals from America declined, and foreign policy was costly. To address these issues, taxes were raised, annuities were issued, and titles were sold. Around 1680, the economic recovery began.