Enlightenment, Despotism, and Bourbon Reforms

Enlightenment Thought

It starts in the 17th century. Its dissemination was through the press and books (often free). It can be defined as the century of reason or lights and the triumph of reason over faith. The key figures of the Enlightenment are Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.

• Voltaire: Was in favor of a limited monarchy to respect the freedoms of citizens. He critiqued religion, the church, and absolutism.
• Montesquieu: Argued for the need to separate the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
• Rousseau: Asserted that sovereignty resides in the people.

The era saw the emergence of commercialism and mercantilism, including physiocracy (agriculture as the main source of wealth) and liberal economics based on supply and demand.

Enlightened Despotism

Defined as "everything for the people, but without the people." The most outstanding monarchs of enlightened despotism were:

• Louis XV (France)
• Carlos III (Spain)
• Catherine I (Russia)
• Joseph II (Austria)
• Joseph I (Portugal)
• Frederick II (Prussia)

These monarchs implemented reforms, which included the following:

• In Administration: Based on centralism and uniformity in institutions.
• In the Economy: Colonization of new lands, legalizing property, and legalizing trade.
• In Education: Building schools for the lowest social strata and emphasizing useful science.
• In Religion: Emphasizing regalism, where the king becomes the protector of the church.

Bourbon Reforms

The Bourbon reforms aimed to modernize and centralize the Spanish monarchy.

A) Political and Administrative Centralization

• New administrative structure.
• Creation of the Cortes (general courts of the kingdom).
• Secretaries of State become current ministers.
• Division of the territory into provinces ruled by a Captain General.

B) Economic Reforms

• Improved collection of taxes.
• Industry: Real textile factories in Catalonia.
• Trade: Esquilache's plan.
• Agriculture reforms.

C) Army Reforms

• More and better material.
• Creation of regiments.
• Creation of military academies.

D) Demographic and Social Reforms

• Increasing population.
• Stratified society.

E) Land Reforms

• Repopulation efforts.
• Sale of some properties of the clergy.
• Limitation of certain privileges of the Mesta.
• Diffusion of new crops.

F) Industrial Reforms

• Modernization of industrial techniques.
• Development of new types of industries.

G) Educational and Cultural Reforms

• Creation of schools and training centers.
• Creation of the Royal Academies of Language and History.

H) Artistic Expressions

• Rococo and Neoclassicism.

State of the Absolute Monarchy in Spain (17th Century)

We refer to how the absolute monarchy was organized in Spain in the 17th century. It is represented in a pyramid scheme with the king at the top, holding absolute power and appointing officials.

The king summons the Cortes and appoints the organs of territorial administration, divided into provinces. In the provinces are the Chancillerías or Audiencias (supreme courts), the Captain-General, and the Corregidores (mayors).

Under the king are the organs of central administration, which include the Secretaries of State or ministers and the Council of Castile.