In the Devil’s Snare Book Report

Elliot, J. H. , Imperial Spain 1469-1716. London Penguin Books, 1963. 423pgs. In Imperial Spain, J. H. Elliot examines the history of archaeozoic modern Spain from the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, to the reformation of the Spanish government by the first member of the Bourbon dynasty. According to the write, at the start of the 15th snow, Spain was intern entirelyy weak, hopelessly divided and isolated from the continent by the Pyrenees.Yet, by 1492, Spanish society experienced a tremendous transformation which allowed Isabella and Ferdinand to unify the country, punch the largest transoceanic empire the world has ever known, and for a few decades fuck off the bullockyest rural area in all of Europe. Unfortunately, Elliot asserts, whatever dynamism animated this terrific ascendancy did not last very long and Spain became once once again a second or third-rate nation.The per male childal rule of the Catholic Monarchs, Elliot argues, is what make Spa in a dominant world mogul when the Habsburg dynasty ascended to the throne, t heritor cosmopolitan imperialism guide them to dribble the nation that Isabella and Ferdinand had begun to create and led to the decline of Spanish power at home and abroad. The book presents the information chronologically and topically. The first quaternion chapters deal with the geographical, social and policy-making changes that took place during the reign of Isabella and Ferdinand. Chapters five done ten analyze the Habsburg dynastys role in the undermining of the Spanish imperium.The extensive bibliography includes a topical section and several bibliographical essays. Six maps and five t equals finish out out the work. In Chapter wizard entitled The Union of Crowns Elliot contends that the conjugation of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon on 19 October 1469 made the idea of Spain an established fact. Even though thither were still large sections of present-day Spain outside of the monarchs control, the union of Castile and Aragon created a government agency in which the total unification of the peninsula could not be far off.While the marriage did not technically consolidate Aragon and Castile into one political entity, the author continues, the close down relationship between Isabella and Ferdinand assured that they would act in concert for the onward motion of their peoples. It was in this context, Elliot goes on to say in Chapter Two titled Reconquest and Conquest, that the Catholic Monarchs undertook the first step towards empire the ReconquistaC the final elimination of the Moorish commonwealth of Granada. at a time the Reconquista was accomplished, the author avers, the monarchs could turn their attention to early(a) matters. These included the consolidation of noble power in Castile, the financing of the capital of Ohio expedition, the establishment of the New existence empire when the expedition proved successful, and the hammering out of a ten der understanding with the Catholic Church. In Chapter Three, The Ordering of Spain Elliot continues by stating that Castile was to be the nates for the Spanish empire. non only was Castile the larger and more populous of the two regions, its political situation allowed for a consolidation of monarchical power that was not manageable in Aragon. The Cortes (parliaments) and medieval fueros (far reaching privileges) of the towns and other organizations of Castile were not as strong or as well established as in Aragon and could be more easily circumvented or ignored. With the reorganization of the Council of Castile in 1480, the author asserts, Isabella had pull together not only the executive but the judicial power of the kingdom into her hands.Once the Reconquista was finalized in 1492, Granada and its resources fell under the jurisdiction of Castile. In addition, Isabella and Castile, Elliot explains, solely financed the Columbus expedition and when the Grand Admiral proved succ essful, the new territories were administered by the Council of Castile. This meant that the fab wealth of the Indies was to further solidify the monarchs position in Castile. Aragon, the author states, was broadly left out of the affairs of empire and it turned its attention to its Mediterranean possessions.While it is true that Ferdinand interfered little with Isabellas handling of Castilian affairs, Elliot asserts in Chapter Four (The Imperial fate) that certain key issues were handled jointly by the monarchs. This was evident in the concessions that they were able to extract from the Vatican. Patronato Real, or the right of presentation to all ecclesiastical benefices in the Kingdom of Granada was granted to the sovereigns of Spain by Pope Innocent VIII spell the Reconquista was still ongoing. Eventually, the author goes on to say, this right would be extended to all Spanish domains. This gave the rulers of Spain al closely omplete control of the Catholic Church in their ter ritories and in time, the clergy would become the most efficient of bureaucrats and administrators of the Spanish empire. Chapter Five is entitled The disposal and the Economy of the Reign of Charles V and in it Elliot argues that after Ferdinands death in 1516, his successor Charles I of Spain, V of the Holy Roman Empire, inherited a thriving, pacified, quasi-united kingdom that had access to the incredible wealth of the Americas. The problem, the author suggests, was that Charles and his successors did not full understand the complexity of the Spanish system they inherited.Instead of cultivating the emerging nationalism of the Spanish, the Habsburgs chased an imperial policy that ultimately destroyed the empire. Charles most grievous mistake, fit in to Elliot, was his absenteeism. Charles was king of Spain for nearly forty years, but he barely spend sixteen in the peninsula. Ferdinand and Isabella, the author postulates, had been personal monarchs always before their people. Ch arles absences made this impossible the people were unhappy with this situation and Charles never became truly Spanish.Chapter Six, turn tail and Religion describes how Charles continent- wide affairs generated a sense of instability and neglect in Spain. These continental affairs, the author adds, demanded readjustments, fiscal, social and administrative within SpainC what were her obligations to other deviates of the Empire? Charles I, Elliot says, was forever embroiled in some conflictC the shinny with France in the 1520s, the offensive and defensive operations against the Turks in the 1530s, 1540s and 1550s, and the impossible chore of destroying heresy once the Counterreformation was launchedC that strained the Imperial purse.Spain was induced to contribute heavily, the author states, though bankruptcy never solidized during Charles reign. Chapter Seven (One Monarch, One Empire, and One Sword) and Chapter Eight (Splendour and Misery) deal with the reign of Phillip II. Not being able to crush the Lutheran heresy, Charles abdicated in favor of his son Philip II in 1566. Philip, who inherited only Spain and the Netherlands, was able to remain in the peninsula, but the author argues, he chose to pursue a disastrous imperial policy like his father. Philip turned his attention away from building a strong Spanish nation and in his capacity as withstander of theCatholic faith he insisted in conducting a series of ruinous campaigns against the infidels and the heretics, the tuffet Turks and the English. By 1575, the author continues, the treasury was so empty that Philip was obliged to restrain a moratorium on loan payments. Then, the costly Spanish Armada, probably Philips most important contribution to Habsburg Spain, was permanently crippled in 1588. Elliot maintains that even though materially the defeat of the Armada was not so exorbitant that it could not be made up, the psychological impact was nevertheless great.It showed, the author argues, the col lapse of Spanish policy in northern Europe. In 1598, the year of Philips death, Elliot asserts, the treasury was eat up and the nation was exhausted. The final two chapters (Revival and Disaster and Epitaph on Empire) discuss the three remaining Habsburg kings, Philip III (1598-1621), Philip IV (1621-1665), and Charles II (1665-1700) and how they were compel to face the reality of the defeat of Spain. According to Elliot, the last three Habsburg kings lacked the material resources, had no capable ministers, viceroys and other officials.This situation, the author speculates, was due in part to the closed nature of the Spanish social and educational systems of the 17th century both of which failed to produce innovative political leaders. Charles II failed to produce an heir and through international machinations, Philip Duke of Anjou was proclaimed King Philip V in April 1701. Once the War of Spanish Succession was concluded and the Bourbon right to the throne hold by the Treaty of Utrecht, the new king quickly divested himself of the Netherlands, the Spanish Italian possessions, introduced the intendant system and in 1716 broke Aragons independence.Spain was finally centralized and Castilianized, but consort to Elliot, it came too late. Castilian economic and cultural hegemony were a thing of the past and its reserve was thrust upon the more advanced peripheral areas. Elliots book explains Spanish political and military affairs between 1469 and 1716 in great detail. It is not necessary to be an expert on Spanish history to amply understand the inner workings of the Spanish monarchy as it truggled to centralize the nation and defend Catholicism during the Reformation after reading this book. This book is as well as useful for those who want to better understand the imperial government of the Spanish colonies. The information presented in this book provides a chronological basis for creating a historical fictional character between 1600 and 1640especially if the character is convolute in politics. The book would not be suitable for those interested in the cultural, intellectual or social history of Spain during this period.