17th Century Social Hierarchy and the Thirty Years' War

and 5.2: Privileged Estates and the Commoners

During the century, the nobility lost part of its power to the absolute monarchs and became tied to the court, where they sought to gain access to the monarch and win favor from him or her. As they lived off the income earned from their properties, they suffered from the frequent agrarian crises over the course of the century. To compensate for this, they increased their demands on the rural peasants. In Spain, the number of nobles increased due to the high volume of aristocratic titles sold by the junior branch of the House of Austria in order to sustain their high levels of expenditure.

The Condition of the Peasantry

The peasantry in Western Europe were free from feudal conditions, unlike those in Eastern Europe, but in both cases, their situation worsened due to the wars, the agrarian crises, and the increased incomes required by the nobility.

The Rise of the Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie grew in number through its involvement in trade and business affairs across Western Europe, which made it wealthier. In contrast, in Spain, the bourgeoisie was not as widespread and it preferred to invest its money in acquiring land and becoming part of the nobility through marriage ties or by purchasing aristocratic titles.

Urban Groups and Social Crisis

The urban groups of small traders and artisans suffered from the crisis in traditional forms of handicrafts, which left them impoverished and without work, while manufacturing workers lived in abysmal conditions. In Spain, the crisis increased the number of paupers, ruffians, and pícaros in the cities.

The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)

The Thirty Years' War began with a conflict in Germany between the Catholic Emperor, who defended the unity of the empire, and the Protestant German princes, who sought greater autonomy. The confrontation became an international affair when the emperor received support from Spain, while the German princes were backed by Spain's major enemies: France, Sweden, Denmark, the United Provinces, and England.

The Treaty of Westphalia

Spain and the emperor were defeated at Rocroi (1643) and signed the Treaty of Westphalia (1648). The treaty required the emperor to accept religious tolerance and acknowledge the power of the German princes, while Spain had to accept the independence of the United Provinces.