In the Devil’s Snare Book Report

Elliot, J. H. , purple Spain 1469-1716. London Penguin Books, 1963. 423pgs. In Imperial Spain, J. H. Elliot examines the tarradiddle of early modern Spain from the obtain of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, to the reformation of the Spanish establishment by the initiatory member of the Bourbon dynasty. According to the fountain, at the start of the fifteenth century, Spain was internally 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 combine the country, secure the largest transoceanic empire the world has ever known, and for a a couple of(prenominal) decades become the strongest nation in all of Europe. Unfortunately, Elliot asserts, whatever dynamism enliven this miraculous ascendancy did not last very long and Spain became erst again a second or third-rate nation.The personal detect of the Catholic Monarchs, Elliot argues, is what made Spain a dominant world major power when the Habsburg dynasty ascended to the plenty, their ecumenic imperialism led them to neglect the nation that Isabella and Ferdinand had begun to create and led to the decline of Spanish power at home and abroad. The loudness presents the information chronologically and topically. The first four chapters deal with the geographical, social and political changes that took place during the reign of Isabella and Ferdinand. Chapters quintuplet through ten analyze the Habsburg dynastys role in the undermining of the Spanish Empire.The massive bibliography includes a topical section and several bibliographical essays. Six maps and five-spot tables round out the work. In Chapter nonpareil en name The Union of Crowns Elliot contends that the matrimony of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon on 19 October 1469 made the idea of Spain an established fact. Even though there were still large sections of present-day Spain outside of the monarchs control, the union of Castile and Aragon created a situation in which the total unification of the peninsula could not be outlying(prenominal) off.While the marriage did not technically consolidate Aragon and Castile into one political entity, the spring continues, the close relationship between Isabella and Ferdinand assured that they would act in contrive for the betterment 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 Moresque kingdom of Granada.Once the Reconquista was accomplished, the beginning avers, the monarchs could turn their forethought to other matters. These included the integration of monarchical power in Castile, the financing of the Columbus expedition, the establishment of the advanced World empire when the expedition proved successful, and the hammering out of a pro moteable understanding with the Catholic Church. In Chapter Three, The Ordering of Spain Elliot continues by stating that Castile was to be the base for the Spanish empire.Not only was Castile the larger and more populous of the twain kingdoms, its political situation allowed for a consolidation of monarchical power that was not possible 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 gathered not only the executive except 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, merely financed the Columbus expedition and when the Grand Admiral proved suc cessful, the new territories were administered by the Council of Castile. This meant that the fabulous wealth of the Indies was to further solidify the monarchs position in Castile. Aragon, the author states, was mostly 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 Destiny) 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 eight-spot while the Reconquista was still ongoing. Eventually, the author goes on to say, this right would be lengthy to all Spanish domains. This gave the rulers of Spain almost omplete control of the Catholic Church in th eir territories and in time, the clergy would become the most efficient of bureaucrats and administrators of the Spanish empire. Chapter Five is authorize The Government 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, familial 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 fully understand the complexity of the Spanish system they inherited.Instead of cultivating the emerging patriotism of the Spanish, the Habsburgs pursued an imperial policy that ultimately destroyed the empire. Charles most stark mistake, according to Elliot, was his absenteeism. Charles was king of Spain for nearly forty years, but he only spent sixteen in the peninsula. Ferdinand and Isabella, the author postulates, had been personal monarchs always in front thei r people. Charles absences made this insufferable the people were unhappy with this situation and Charles never became sincerely Spanish.Chapter Six, Race and Religion describes how Charles continent- wide affairs generated a sense of imbalance and neglect in Spain. These continental affairs, the author adds, demanded readjustments, fiscal, social and administrative inwardly SpainC what were her obligations to other parts of the Empire? Charles I, Elliot says, was forever embroiled in several(prenominal) conflictC the struggle with France in the 1520s, the offensive and defensive operations against the Turks in the 1530s, 1540s and 1550s, and the impossible task of destroying heresy once the Counterreformation was launchedC that strained the Imperial purse.Spain was induced to render heavily, the author states, though bankruptcy never materialized during Charles reign. Chapter S raze (One Monarch, One Empire, and One Sword) and Chapter Eight (Splendour and Misery) deal with th e 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 repose in the peninsula, but the author argues, he chose to pursue a mordant imperial policy like his father. Philip turned his attention away from mental synthesis a strong Spanish nation and in his capacity as defender of theCatholic faith he insisted in conducting a series of mischievous campaigns against the infidels and the heretics, the Ottoman Turks and the English. By 1575, the author continues, the exchequer was so empty that Philip was make to declare a moratorium on loan payments. Then, the costly Spanish Armada, believably 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 gravi d.It showed, the author argues, the fail of Spanish policy in northern Europe. In 1598, the year of Philips death, Elliot asserts, the treasury was depleted and the nation was exhausted. The final two chapters (Revival and Disaster and Epitaph on Empire) discuss the threesome remaining Habsburg kings, Philip III (1598-1621), Philip IV (1621-1665), and Charles II (1665-1700) and how they were forced 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 seventeenth century both of which failed to arrest 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 Bo urbon right to the throne formalized 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 centralised and Castilianized, but according to Elliot, it came too late. Castilian economic and cultural hegemony were a thing of the erstwhile(prenominal) and its backwardness was thrust upon the more advanced peripheral areas. Elliots deem explains Spanish political and military affairs between 1469 and 1716 in great detail. It is not necessary to be an expert on Spanish business relationship to fully 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 also useful for those who want to better understand the imperial presidency of the Spanish colonies. The information presented in this book provides a chronologica l rear for creating a historical fictional flake between 1600 and 1640especially if the character is involved in politics. The book would not be suitable for those fire in the cultural, intellectual or social history of Spain during this period.