Charles I’s Reign & 18th-Century Spain: Key Aspects
Legacy of Charles I
Charles I was the eldest son of Philip “the Handsome” and Juana “la Loca.” Born in Ghent in 1500, he was proclaimed King of Spain in Brussels in 1516 and came to Spain the following year. He would be known as Charles I of Spain and V of Germany. From his paternal grandfather, Maximilian I, he inherited the Austrian territories and the right to be elected Emperor of Germany. From his paternal grandmother, Mary of Burgundy, he inherited the Duchy of Burgundy, the Netherlands, and Franche-Comté. From his maternal grandfather, Ferdinand of Aragon, he inherited the Crown of Aragon, with possessions in the Mediterranean: Naples, Sicily, Roussillon, and Sardinia. Finally, from his maternal grandmother, Isabella of Castile, he inherited the Crown of Castile, American territories, and squares in North Africa.
House of Trade
The New Territories of the Indies represented a huge source of revenue for the Crown of Castile, which controlled trade and reserved a fifth of all imported products. This monopoly was granted to the port of Seville, from where the route to America went back and forth. Thus, in 1503, the House of Trade was created in Seville to control the trafficking of people and goods while ensuring the collection of royal taxes. This organization disappeared in the 18th century with the free trade decrees.
Validos
Validos were people of confidence for the king, to whom he delegated functions of government. The validos made decisions, which were ratified by the king with his signature. This position was given power under the reign of the “Lesser Habsburgs,” indolent kings who were more interested in the pleasures of the court than in government, or who let themselves be carried away by their trusted men, such as the Duke of Lerma, the Count-Duke of Olivares, and Juan José de Austria with Charles II. In some cases, they took advantage of the position for their own benefit.
Expulsion of the Moors
The Moors were a group of Christians who lived in the reconquered Muslim territory. They aroused suspicion and mistrust due to their language and customs, in addition to being suspected of supporting attacks by Berbers and Turks in the Mediterranean. In April 1609, they were first expelled from Valencia, and later from the rest of the kingdom. The expulsion affected more than 300,000 people, and their preferred destination was Africa. Their departure had consequences, especially for agriculture.
Spanish War of Succession
After the death of the last Habsburg without issue, a war was initiated for the Crown. The candidates for the throne were: Philip of Anjou, supported by Castile and Navarre, and Archduke Charles of Habsburg, supported by Aragon. The war spread throughout Europe, with France siding with Philip, and Britain and Austria with Charles. The death of Joseph I changed the course of the war; Charles acceded to the throne and signed peace with important concessions.
New Plant Decrees
With these decrees, Philip V imposed the political and administrative organization of Castile on the territories of the former Crown of Aragon. All the kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon would be subject to the law of Castile, although Catalonia retained its own civil law, but was forced to replace Catalan with Castilian in documents and public performances. The Basque Country and Navarre maintained their privileges for helping Philip V.
Mercantilism
Mercantilism was an economic theory and practice disseminated throughout Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, according to which the wealth and power of a country depended on the accumulation of gold and silver. It was related to the development of international trade and the increase in the money supply. This policy led to state intervention with the imposition of heavy taxes and control of foreign trade.
Economic Societies of Friends of the Country
These were private companies created in Spain in the second half of the 18th century. They began to promote the economy and educate the population, serving as an instrument to carry out the ideas of the Enlightenment. Their objectives were the promotion of agriculture, industry, and commerce, as well as the promotion of science and education. Members came from the minor nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie. The first was founded by a Basque nobleman, the Count of Peñaflorida, and was called the Royal Basque Society of Friends of the Country.