Economía imperial - History Lab

Evolution of the Havana garrison (Cuba, 1701-1746)

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:48 +0000

During the War of the Spanish Succession, numerous human resources were mobilised in the Indies in favour of the French pretender. But Philip V was aware of the logistical impossibility of transporting large contingents of troops from the Americas to the mainland and maintaining them adequately during the journey. Nevertheless, the military mobilisation in the Indies was large enough to rid the continent of foreign interference during this period. The resource shows the evolution of the Havana garrison, as measured by salaries, between 1701 and 1746. From a first stage of maintenance in numbers, with spending oscillating in a constant range, a new regulation was implemented in 1719 that sought to improve the isolation and permanence of the soldiers in Havana. For 20 years the average number of men was 800, a figure that increased exponentially with the Anglo-Spanish war that began in 1739 in the Caribbean. Known as the War of the Seat, the conflict forced more troops to be garrisoned and, except for the occasional episode of bankruptcy in 1742, the bonds enjoyed good health both because of the aid they received from New Spain (situated) and because of the administration of their own internal coffers. The withdrawal of the English fleet from the Caribbean eased Havana’s financial burden, showing a slight decrease at the end of 1746.

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Evolution of the garrison of Cartagena de Indias, 1700-1746

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:48 +0000

The evolution of the garrison at Cartagena de Indias, unlike that of Havana, showed a stable trend until the outbreak of British hostilities in the War of the Seat (1739-1748). The garrison numbered around 150-200 men, a tiny figure in relation to the importance and size of the territory to be defended, reflecting the old system of semi-private recruitment. Despite this, the English crown’s maritime superiority was only countered by the effective tactical and defensive work of the Spanish overseas provinces. From 1736 onwards, the garrison’s military expenditure increased, a build-up that lasted until 1740-1741, when Cartagena, the main port of the viceroyalty of New Granada, was attacked and besieged. The Spanish resistance, led by Blas de Lezo, resulted in a defensive victory for the port and the region. A year later, in 1742, Cartagena was able to receive new financial remittances in the form of silver from Santa Fe and Quito, thus ensuring defensive continuity against another possible English attack.

The post Evolution of the garrison of Cartagena de Indias, 1700-1746 first appeared on History Lab.

Imperial Relief System. The evolution of military expenditure in the Manila coffers, 1580-1660

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:41 +0000

Spain’s introduction of America into the world system gave birth to the Spanish Empire through the conquest of numerous territories. Parts of Asia also came under the umbrella of the Empire. The Imperial articulation had its enemies at the international level. In the case of the Philippines, between 1600 and 1624, the Dutch Armada carried out nine operations aimed at fragmenting Spain. Important actions such as the bombardment of Iloilo, the siege of Manila in 1616 and the blockade of the city in 1621 and 1624 caused the local economy to suffer considerably. The evolution of military spending showed exponential growth during the first half of the 17th century, a time of increased Dutch pressure. The Philippines, a Spanish sovereign territory that was self-financed by the revenue collected from the Islands, was financially supported by the Empire in what is known as “situados”. A situado was, in the author’s words, the transfer executed from a surplus to a fiscal deficit in the imperial tax pool. Aid to the Philippines from the Mexican viceroyalty was used to finance defence and troop costs. Increased military spending led to the pacification of hostilities by protecting Spanish and Philippine interests in the West Indies.

The post Imperial Relief System. The evolution of military expenditure in the Manila coffers, 1580-1660 first appeared on History Lab.

Ordinary revenues of the Peninsula and the Indies for the Spanish Monarchy, 1763-1811

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:41 +0000

During the Modern Age the Hispanic Monarchy was financed by its subjects settled in the Iberian Peninsula and in the imperial provinces overseas. From 1763 to 1811, the territories that contributed most to the General Treasury of Spain showed an inversion: while the peninsular crowns were the main sources of financing in ordinary revenues, the French invasion that triggered the War of Independence caused the contribution of these territories to fall sharply; for their part, revenues from the Americas were maintained and only surpassed the peninsular contribution because of this situation. However, as the author points out, ordinary revenue to the General Treasury from the Americas did not include revenue in kind. Thus, if we add ordinary income to extraordinary income, the aforementioned reversal of contributions occurred in the 1790s, when the transfer of silver from New Spain accounted for 80% of total American remittances.

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