Spanish Baroque Literature - Historical Frame

Historical Frame

During this century under the House of Austria Spain entered a period of progressive decay. As in the 16th century, the monarchs delegated their power to unpopular court favourites.

Philip III (1598–1621) inherited a great empire in bankruptcy, and the hostility of England and the Netherlands. The Duke of Lerma moved the court to Valladolid in 1600; six years later it returned to Madrid. He signed a truce with England in 1604, and later with the Netherlands (1609–1621). He expelled the moriscos from the Peninsula (1609), a decision which impoverished agriculture and commerce in the country.

The Duke of Uceda succeeded the Duke of Lerma. Spain then took part in the Thirty Years' War. The nobility increased their power, while the economy stagnated and copper coinage started to replace gold and silver.

Philip IV granted power to the Count-Duke of Olivares, who tried to maintain Spanish supremacy over France in a war begun in 1635, and control over the Netherlands.

Fiscal pressure and general political disquiet caused revolts in Portugal, Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre and Andalusia. The palace of Buen Retiro was built, where lavish court events were held.

The Count-Duke was replaced by Luis Menéndez de Haro. At his resignation, an influential nun, María de Jesús de Ágreda, became the king's advisor. In 1648 Spain signed the Treaty of Westfalia, by which some territories were lost, and Holland obtained its independence.

In 1659 the war with France ended with the Peace of the Pyrenees. Poverty, epidemics and high taxes caused an alarming drop in population and encouraged rapid migration from the country to the city. Many areas were left depopulated, which harmed the national economy.

Charles II (1665–1700) was the last Spanish king in the House of Austria. Since he was four years old when he inherited the throne, his mother, Mariana of Austria, was appointed regent, with the cooperation of a council of notables.

During his reign, Portugal (annexed to Spain during the reign of Philip II in 1580) obtained its independence. Continuous war with France highlighted Spain's decay relative to the power of that nation.

Charles II was weak and sickly and nicknamed the "Bewitched". He had no children by either of his wives and named Philip of Anjou, the future Philip V, grandson of Louis XIV of France his heir. Even before his death, other European monarchs had been attracted to Spanish territory. His death without direct descendents prompted the War of Spanish Succession.