Decline of Spanish Empire: 17th Century Challenges

Decline of Spanish Empire in Europe

Foreign Policy: Philip III signed a peace treaty with England (1604) and the 12-year truce with Holland (1609-1621). With Philip IV, the peace was broken due to the German conflict. At the end of the 12-year truce, fighting resumed in the Hispanic Netherlands, with Austria and Spain against Protestant Germany and Holland. The Thirty Years' War ended with the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which permanently ceded independence to the United Provinces. Spain fought against France until the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659), which involved the transfer of Roussillon, Sardinia, and Artois. Under Charles II, the independence of Portugal was recognized. There was peace in Aachen (1668), the French invasion of the Low Countries and Holland ended with the Peace of Nijmegen (1678), and the peace of Regensburg (1680) and Ryswick (1697).

Economic and Social Trends in 17th Century

The 17th century was a time of great depression due to population decline, major epidemics, the expulsion of the Moors (1609-1611), migration, and constant wars. Exhaustion and review led to debt and bankruptcy of real estate. New sources of income were sought, such as new taxes, sale of offices, sale of vassals, and sale of peerages. The population recovery began around 1680. Society remained class-based; the nobility grew, as did the religious (clergy). The weak bourgeoisie invested in land and estates. Farmers were most affected by the crisis, and banditry arose to escape poverty.

Habsburgs: Valid Rule and Internal Conflicts

Valid: A henchman serving as the first minister of the king. With Philip III (1598-1621), the practice of the valido began. His favorite was the Duke of Lerma, an ambitious man with a mediocre policy. Philip IV (1621-1665), a more cultured ruler with greater interest in government work, appointed the Count-Duke of Olivares. During the reign of Charles II, various validos succeeded in power: Nithard, Valenzuela, Count of Oropesa, in a climate of political instability. The domestic highlight of Philip III's reign was the expulsion of the Moors, with dire consequences. Under Philip IV, the reform projects of the Count-Duke of Olivares failed. With Charles II, social conflicts arose: peasant revolts in Catalonia, the second Germanía in Valencia, and riots over the lack of bread in Madrid and Valladolid. With the death of Charles II, the War of the Spanish Succession began (1701-1715).

Crisis of 1640

The social and economic crisis was aggravated by the Thirty Years' War. New taxes were created, public offices were sold, and lords were granted land in return for money, leading to social unrest and political opposition to Olivares. The worst moment was when separatist rebellions broke out in Catalonia and Portugal. The revolt of Catalonia (1640-1652) was an anti-centralist revolt, and the Catalans appointed Louis XIII, King of France, as Count of Barcelona. The crisis was joined by African and French opposition, causing the depletion of the Catalans, who surrendered in 1652. The rebellion and independence of Portugal (1640-1668) was of noble character, proclaiming the Duke of Braganza as king under the name of John IV. Independence was consolidated in 1668.