17th Century Spain: Habsburg Rule & Crisis
Seventeenth-Century Spain
Habsburg Rule and Internal Conflicts
Throughout the 17th century, Spain was ruled by the Habsburg monarchs Philip III (1598-1621), Philip IV (1621-1665), and Charles II (1665-1700). These kings relied heavily on validos (royal favorites) to govern, leading to political instability and public distrust. Philip III’s valido, the Duke of Lerma, and his successor, the Duke of Uceda, prioritized personal gain and nepotism. This era witnessed the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609.
Philip IV appointed the Count-Duke of Olivares as his valido. Olivares implemented ambitious tax reforms and a centralized military policy (Union of Arms, 1625) to fund Spain’s foreign wars. However, these policies sparked widespread resistance, particularly in Catalonia and Portugal, ultimately leading to Olivares’ downfall. Despite ongoing rebellions, Habsburg rule persisted until the death of Charles II, who bequeathed the throne to Philip of Bourbon, Duke of Anjou.
The Crisis of 1640
The Count-Duke of Olivares’ reforms, aimed at financing Spain’s European wars, ignited the Crisis of 1640. The Union of Arms, requiring kingdoms to contribute troops and resources based on their economic capacity, triggered rebellions. Catalonia, burdened by war with France, revolted in 1640 during the Corpus de Blood events. To quell the rebellion, the Catalan Generalitat offered allegiance to Louis XIII of France, who occupied Catalonia until 1652.
Portugal, feeling neglected and exploited by Spain, also rebelled in 1640. Portuguese nobles proclaimed the Duke of Braganza as King John IV, initiating the Restoration War. This conflict concluded in 1668 with Spain recognizing Portuguese independence.
The widespread uprisings, including one in Andalusia, exposed the failure of Olivares’ policies, leading to his dismissal by Philip IV in 1643.
Decline of the Spanish Empire
The 17th century witnessed a decline in Spain’s imperial power. Diminished financial resources, dwindling American silver imports, and a demographic crisis weakened the Spanish military. Simultaneously, threats from England, the United Provinces, and France, later joined by Portugal, stretched Spain’s resources thin.
While Philip III had achieved peace with England (1604) and a truce with the United Provinces (1609), Philip IV reignited hostilities. Spain’s involvement in the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) alongside the Austrian Habsburgs ended with defeat at the Battle of Rocroi (1643). The Peace of Westphalia (1648) marked the end of Spanish hegemony and recognized the independence of the United Provinces.
Further conflicts with France, Portugal, and England led to the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659), ceding territories to France. The Treaty of Lisbon (1668) formally recognized Portuguese independence. Spain’s defensive weakness continued under Charles II, resulting in further territorial losses to France.
Social and Economic Developments
in much of Europe there was a demographic crisis, economic and social development, along the seventeenth century, stalled the Spanish population, especially in the core of Castile, the void growth was due to the successive crises of subsistence, epidemics, wars, and the expulsion of the Moors. During the seventeenth century there were economic difficulties due to declining agricultural production due to lack of manpower also had a recession of crafts Castilian, by high prices, a lack of investment in industrial and commercial enterprises, and there was an imbalance of foreign trade (exported more than imported), which required more resources American trade declined by the tax burden. Spanish society was still medieval, two states had privileged nobility, formed by the aristocracy, who were the nobility and gentry, which was a modest nobility. And the clergy, who enjoyed a well-off, the clergy were concentrated in big cities and did not suffer financial burdens, had higher clergy, mostly of noble origin, and lower clergy, who were more humble. The third social status was determined by mostly peasants, who were day laborers and staged numerous uprisings throughout the seventeenth century, by their situation. There were also artisans and merchants grouped into guilds, and the Spanish bourgeoisie, who hastened to ennoble buying securities. 9.5 cultural splendor. The Golden Baroque is a cultural and artistic movement that spread in Spain since the last decades of the sixteenth century to the mid-century. Was diffused from Italy and propagated by the Jesuits. Its center was in Rome, was in the service of Church and Monarchy, dispensing with the classical balance and trying to reach a large audience.Among his topics include the exaltation of royal power, the dogmas of the Catholic faith, contempt of earthly life, pessimism, decay … This reflects the impact of economic and political crisis. In literature highlights the Quixote, the poetry of Gongora and Quevedo, and the theater of Lope de Vega, Calderón and Tirso de Molina. With regard to architecture, the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, by Juan Gomez de Mayor, the principle of architecture was Counter and then was influenced by the Roman Baroque. Baroque sculpture was almost exclusively religious, schools highlights Valladolid, Seville and Granada. As for painting, religious clientele was joined by the patronage of the court (Philip IV). Is characterized by its naturalism, and for trying to express the ephemeral. There Venetian influence, added to the Rome of Caravaggio. Schools emphasize Madrid and Seville, and authors such as Velázquez and Zurbarán.