Spanish Habsburgs in the 17th Century: Reign and Diplomacy
The Austrian Habsburgs in 17th Century Spain: Internal Governments
Both validos and conflicts with Charles I, as well as the secretary to Philip II, never exceeded the status of assistants of the king. However, after Philip III assumed the throne, validos, secretaries, or virtually all governmental affairs.
Philip III (1598-1621)
Philip III appointed his first valido, the Duke of Lerma, who was devoid of political education and honesty. The Duke sold and bought extravagant favors and rights. He was able to be appointed cardinal and was deposed to avoid the gallows. His successor and son, the Duke of Uceda, was more honorable and cared for the hacienda. During his reign, the decline in wars did not prevent the tax rise, succeeding several bankruptcies that attempted to alleviate the coinage of fleece and the expulsion of the Moors in 1609.
Philip IV (1621-1665)
Philip IV appointed his chief valido, the Count-Duke of Olivares, who tried to reform the administration and was a clear trade protectionist that ruined the appearance of the industry. He tried to abolish the tax exemptions of the peninsular kingdoms. He created the Union of Arms for the entire monarchy, with mandatory participation of all kingdoms, but it was a failure due to opposition. He was succeeded by Luis de Haro, who was more balanced and realistic. Because of the war held in Flanders and France, the Count-Duke attempted finance reform that was opposed by the privileged class.
Charles II (1665-1700)
The first validos of Charles II were Father Nithard and then Fernando Valenzuela. Subsequently, he appointed Mr. John of Austria, who led the Councils. Later, the Duke of Medinaceli and the Count of Oropesa held the position. They carried out economic reforms that collapsed trade but were beneficial in the long run.
Foreign Policy of the Spanish Habsburgs in the 17th Century
Philip III
Philip III inherited the war with the powers of the Treaty of Greenwich. He made peace with James I of England in 1604. With the Netherlands, he signed the Twelve Years’ Truce. With France, which had already signed the peace in 1598, several marriages were agreed upon: Philip IV to a French princess and Infanta Maria Teresa to Louis XIV. His foreign policy shows that he reached pacifism, but in 1618 that peace was broken when the Spanish Habsburgs helped in the Thirty Years’ War.
Philip IV
In 1621, the Twelve Years’ Truce ended, and the Netherlands, with support from Sweden and Denmark, declared war on Spain until 1648 when the Peace of Westphalia was signed. This recognized the independence of the Netherlands, but Flanders remained faithful. The Thirty Years’ War was favorable to the Habsburgs until 1635 when France joined the Protestants. This caused the loss of Spanish hegemony in favor of France and forced the signing of the Peace of Westphalia with the Protestants. However, the war with France did not end until the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659), in which France annexed Roussillon, Cerdanya, and part of the Netherlands.
Charles II
Charles II made peace in Lisbon in 1668, in which Portugal won its independence. Harassment from France to Spain continued in northern Europe, so Louis XIV conquered Franche-Comté and part of Flanders after the Peace of Aachen (1668) and Nijmegen (1678). When the possible problem of succession arose after the death of Charles II, Louis XIV gave Luxembourg to Spain for the Peace of Ryswick (1697) to tilt the balance towards Philip D’Anjou.