Spanish Monarchy Crisis of 1640 and Nueva Planta Decrees

The Crisis of 1640 and the Union of Arms

The Crisis of 1640 was the result of an attempt to unify the territories of the monarchy, forming a centralized state and distributing economic burdens among all kingdoms following the exhaustion of Castile. This plan was detailed in the Memorial of the Count-Duke of Olivares in 1624. Among the proposed reforms, the Union of Arms stands out, establishing a system where each kingdom was to maintain a specific number of soldiers to fight in European conflicts, such as the Thirty Years' War and the conflict with Holland, aiming to complete an army of 140,000 soldiers.

This fiscal redistribution was rejected in the peripheral realms, particularly in Catalonia, where it transformed into a political confrontation. In 1635, the war with France resumed, increasing tension due to forced recruitments and the accommodation of soldiers. The indiscipline of troops sent to the Roussillon frontier and the stagnation of trade acted as a trigger for a revolt beginning with the Corpus de Sangre in Barcelona and the murder of Viceroy Santa Coloma.

The Catalan Conflict and Portuguese Independence

In 1641, Catalonia declared independence and requested help from France, internationalizing a conflict that was prolonged until 1652 with the capitulation of Barcelona. French authoritarianism and the radicalization of social unrest eventually contributed to the pacification of the territory without significant changes to the status of Catalonia.

The rebellion spread to Portugal due to the increased tax burden caused by the Union of Arms and the monarchy's weakness in maintaining the sugar trade with Holland. In 1640, a revolt broke out in Lisbon with the support of France and Britain, declaring the Duke of Braganza as King John IV of Portugal. Additionally, riots erupted in Sicily, Naples, and Andalusia.

The Nueva Planta Decrees

Following the defeat in the War of Succession, a new organization was established for the monarchy: the abolition of privileges and the implementation of a highly centralized absolute monarchy. This new form of government was enacted through the Nueva Planta Decrees.

• The First Decree: Abolished the privileges of Aragon and Valencia, imposing legislation and institutions very similar to those of Castile.
• The Second Decree: Applied to the kingdom of Mallorca, where some traditional institutions were preserved.
• The Third Decree: Abolished traditional governance institutions in Catalonia.

Administrative and Economic Modernization

Under these decrees, Viceroys were replaced by Captains General, who performed both military and governmental functions. The Audiencias handled court matters and advised the Captains General. In all these territories, a unitary contribution system was implanted, based on the levy of a fixed amount for each realm. These new tax rates contributed to the modernization of the economy by providing greater stability.